A WORD ABOUTBIBLICAL TRANSLATIONS USEDFor the sake of readability & getting at what I believe to be the truest essence of the text, I’m using a combination of the:

* NRSV* The Kingdom New Testament

THE SERMON-IN-A-SENTENCE

We have TOTAL victory IN JesusBECAUSE of JesusAnd FOR Jesus

ROMANS 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in The Messiah, Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in The Messiah, Jesusfrom the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law (being weak because of human flesh) could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin-offering, He condemned sin in order that the right and proper verdict of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4

For those whose lives are determined by focusing onhuman flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but people whose lives are determined by focus on the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is focused on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are determined by the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8

You, however, are not people of the flesh, but people of the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Note that anyone who does not have the Spirit of The Messiah does not belong to Him.) But if The Messiah is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of covenant faithfulness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised The Messiah from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:9-11

So then, my dear family, we are in debt, not to human flesh, to live our life in that way. For if you live according to the flesh you will die,but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship, in whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Romans 8:12-15

When that happens, it is the Spirit Himself testifying along with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with The Messiah, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

Romans 8:16-17

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth putting on the scale with the glory that is to be unveiled for us. For the creation is on tiptoe with expectation, eagerly awaiting the moment when God’s children will be revealed. For the creation was subjected to pointless futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to decay, to enjoy the freedom that comes when God’s children are glorified. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning and going through labor pains together until now.

Romans 8:18-22

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope isn’t hope if you can see it. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it eagerly, but also patiently.

Romans 8:23-25

Likewise the Spirit comes along side us and helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words. And The Searcher of Hearts knows what the Spiritis thinking, because the Spirit pleads for God’s peopleaccording to God’s will.

Romans 8:26-27

We know, in fact, that God works all things together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also marked out in advance to be shaped to the model of the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn of a large family. And those He marked out in advance, He also called, and those He called He also declared to be in the right, and those He declared to be in the right He also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

What then shall we say to these things? (Q:1) If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? (Q:2) Who shall bring any charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who declares them in the right. (Q:3) Who is to condemn? It is The Messiah, Jesus, who has died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed also prays on our behalf.

Romans 8:31-34

(Q:4) Who shall separate us from The Messiah’s love? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

As the Bible says,

“Because of you we are being killed all the day long, we are regarded as sheep destined for slaughter.”

Romans 8:35-36

No, in all these things we are completelyvictorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor the present nor the future, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in King Jesus, our Lord.

Romans 8:37-38

SOUL TRAININGEXERCISEIn light of today’s message:

Write God a letter thanking Himfor the great love He has shown you - Be as specific as possible - Think of things big AND small - Remember: EVERY good gift we have comes specifically from Him…