Detailed Outline of Romans
The Gospel of Salvation by Faith Unites All Believers—Jew and Greek
The Promises, Provisions, and Privileges of the Gospel (Rom 5:1-8:39)
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Salvation—freedom from the wrath of God, and the joyous hope of glory (Rom 5:1-21)
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The results of being justified by faith (Rom 5:1-11)
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We have peace with God (Rom 5:1)
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The prerequisite to peace with God (Rom 5:1a)
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The peace explained (Rom 5:1b)
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The Person through whom we have this peace with God (Rom 5:1c)
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We have favor before God (Rom 5:2ab)
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The Person who gives us favor before God (Rom 5:2a)
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The privilege of standing in grace before God (Rom 5:2b)
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We have joy in our hope in God (Rom 5:2c-5)
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We rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:2c)
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We rejoice in our tribulations (Rom 5:3-5)
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The reality of our joy (Rom 5:3a)
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The reasons for our joy (Rom 5:3b-5)
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The process of divinely wrought hope (Rom 5:3b-4)
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The pouring out of the love of God within our hearts (Rom 5:5)
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We have love from God (Rom 5:5b-8)
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The Person through whom we personally experience the love of God (Rom 5:5b)
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The proof of the love of God (Rom 5:6-8)
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While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6)
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While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:7-8)
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We have salvation and reconciliation with God (Rom 5:9-11)
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We are saved from the wrath of God through Christ (Rom 5:9)
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We have been reconciled to God and will be saved by Christ’s life (Rom 5:10)
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We are rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:11)
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The results of Adam’s sin—sin and death (Rom 5:12-14)
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Because of Adam, sin entered the world, and all sinned (Rom 5:12)
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Because of Adam, death entered the world, and all died (Rom 5:12-14)
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Death entered the world through Adam’s sin (Rom 5:12b)
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Death spread to all men, because all sinned (Rom 5:12c)
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Death came upon all sinners, even though many did not have special revelation from God that they violated (Rom 5:13-14)
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The reversal of the results of Adam’s sin—grace and life in Christ (Rom 5:15-21)
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The reversal of death through the grace of Christ (Rom 5:15)
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The reversal of condemnation through justification in Christ (Rom 5:16)
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The reversal of death through the grace of Christ (Rom 5:17)
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The reversal of condemnation through justification in Christ (Rom 5:18)
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The reversal of disobedience through the obedience of Christ (Rom 5:19)
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The reason for the Law, and the response of grace (Rom 5:20)
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The reversal of death through the grace of Christ (Rom 5:21)
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Sanctification—freedom from the captivity of sin, the condemnation of the Law, and freedom to conduct ourselves in view of the certain hope of glory (Rom 6:1-8:30)
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The gospel sets us free from captivity to sin (Rom 6:1-23)
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Your position in Christ, under the rule of grace—you have died to sin and are alive to God (Rom 6:1-14)
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The possible objection to the rule of grace, and Paul’s inspired answer (Rom 6:1-2)
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The anticipated objection to the reign of abounding grace (Rom 6:1)
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The answer (Rom 6:2)
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The positional facts of our union with Christ (Rom 6:3-10)
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The reminder of our position as having been submersed into Christ (Rom 6:3-4)
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Baptized into Christ, baptized into His death (Rom 6:3)
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Buried with Christ, raised so we too might walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4)
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The results of being united with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom 6:5-7)
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The facts restated—if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection (Rom 6:5)
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The freedom recognized—our old man was crucified with Christ, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin (Rom 6:6-7)
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The recognition of our glorious hope—eternal life, living for God (Rom 6:8-10)
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We believe that our union with Christ guarantees our eternal life (Rom 6:8)
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We believe Christ’s resurrection guarantees victory over death (Rom 6:9)
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We believe Christ died to sin once for all, but lives eternally unto the glory of God (Rom 6:10)
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The personal responsibility of living the resurrected life (Rom 6:11-14)
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The principle stated: As Christ died to sin and was raised to eternally glorify God, so you must consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ (Rom 6:11)
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The practice explained (Rom 6:11-12)
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Do not let sin rule in your mortal body (Rom 6:12-13a)
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Determine to live as someone who is alive from the dead, to the glory of God (Rom 6:13b)
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The promise and privilege affirmed (Rom 6:14)
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Your privileges under the rule of grace—you have been freed from sin’s mastery and are willing slaves of righteousness (Rom 6:15-23)
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The slightly modified objection to the rule of grace restated [and answered again] (Rom 6:15)
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The slave-master principle explained—you are slaves of the one whom you obey (Rom 6:16)
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The sovereign conversion extolled—you were slaves of sin, but through the gospel you became slaves of righteousness (Rom 6:17-18)
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The Person responsible for your conversion (Rom 6:17a)
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The position you were in before conversion (Rom 6:17b)
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The personal repentance that attended your conversion (Rom 6:17c)
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The positional change that took place at your conversion (Rom 6:18)
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The simple application made—present your body a slave of righteousness (Rom 6:19)
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The sharp contrast developed—death to those who are slaves of sin and eternal life for those enslaved to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:20-23)
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When you were slaves of sin, righteousness did not control you (Rom 6:20)
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When you were slaves of sin, what fruit did you really get? Things of which you are now ashamed—whose outcome is death! (Rom 6:21)
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As slaves of God, the fruit is sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life (Rom 6:22)
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The summary statement that calls us to live as willing slaves of God (Rom 6:23)
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The gospel sets us free from the condemnation of the law (Rom 7:1-25)
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The proclamation that believers are released from the Law’s lordship (Rom 7:1-6)
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The law has lordship over a person as long as he lives (Rom 7:1-3)
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The proposition stated (Rom 7:1)
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The picture of marriage offered [as an illustration] (Rom 7:2-3)
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The death of a husband releases the wife from the law of the husband (Rom 7:2)
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The death of a husband releases the wife to be joined to another man (Rom 7:3)
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The law no longer has lordship over those who have died and are joined to Him who was raised from the dead (Rom 7:4-6)
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Our death to the law and its purpose (Rom 7:4)
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Our deplorable condition under the lordship of the law (Rom 7:5)
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Our delightful freedom that results in submissive service in newness of the Spirit, and not the oldness of the letter (Rom 7:6)
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The proclamation of the Law’s purity and its purpose in relation to sin [and its powerlessness to deliver from sin’s bondage] (Rom 7:7-25)
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The purity and purpose of the Law [in regard to sin] defended (Rom 7:7)
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The Law is not sin (Rom 7:7a)
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The Law reveals sin (Rom 7:7b)
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The principle of sin and its use of the Law detailed (Rom 7:8-11)
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Sin uses the law to excite in me all kinds lusts (Rom 7:8a)
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Sin uses the law to condemn me to death (Rom 7:8b-9)
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Sin uses the law to deceive me and kill me (Rom 7:10-11)
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The purity and purpose of the Law [in relation to sin] declared and defended again (Rom 7:12-13)
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The Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good (Rom 7:12)
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The Law is the medium through which sin is exposed as utterly sinful (Rom 7:13)
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The portrayal of how the Law exposes the utter sinfulness of sin—and the powerlessness of the Law to subdue the flesh described (Rom 7:14-25) 1
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The presupposition and prospectus statement [what Paul was going to cover] (Rom 7:14)
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The Law is spiritual (Rom 7:14a)
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I am of flesh, sold under sin (Rom 7:14b)
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The principle of sin, and its utter sinfulness exposed by the Law (Rom 7:15-23)
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As I assess my actions, I see my own inconsistencies, inner-conflict, and impotence—and the Law’s beauty (Rom 7:15-16)
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The Law reveals my inconsistencies and inner turmoil (Rom 7:15)
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The Law reveals my impotence—and I agree that it is good (Rom 7:16)
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As I assess my own inconsistencies and impotence—and the Law’s beauty—I conclude that indwelling sin is the source of evil within me (Rom 7:17-20)
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Sin is greater than I imagined—it is an enemy that lives in me (Rom 7:17)
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I know the truth, and I want to do good—but I do not do it (Rom 7:18)
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I actually practice the very evil that I do not want (Rom 7:19)
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In light of this, I see that sin is greater than I imagined—it is an enemy that lives in me (Rom 7:20)
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As I assess indwelling sin in light of my conflicting desires and actions, I see my captivity to the law of sin (Rom 7:21-23)
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I see the law of evil present in me—though I want to do good (Rom 7:21)
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I delight in the law of God in the inner man (Rom 7:22)
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I see a war between the law of my body parts and the law of my mind—making me a prisoner of the law of sin in my body (Rom 7:23)
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The proclamation that reveals the sinfulness of sin, and the problem of what the Law cannot do (Rom 7:24; cf. Rom 8:3)
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The praise for God’s redemption in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 7:25a)
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The powerlessness of the Law to subdue the flesh (Rom 7:25b; cf. Rom 8:3)
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The gospel sets us free to conduct our lives according to the Spirit, as sons of God rather than slaves to the flesh (Rom 8:1-17)
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Freedom from condemnation, and the law of sin and death2 (Rom 8:1-4)
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The reality of our freedom—no condemnation (Rom 8:1)
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The reason for our freedom—justification (Rom 8:2)
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The route to our freedom—substitution (Rom 8:3)
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The result of our freedom—sanctification (Rom 8:4)
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Freedom to conduct our lives as sons of God, rather than slaves of the flesh (Rom 8:5-17)
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The Spirit gives us a new orientation and new perspective (Rom 8:5-11)
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There are only two ways of life—and they are mutually exclusive (Rom 8:5-6)
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The two ways of life introduced (Rom 8:5)
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Those according to the flesh, who set their minds on the things of the flesh
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Those according to the Spirit, who set their minds on the things of the Spirit
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The two ways of life assessed (Rom 8:6)
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The mind set on the flesh is death
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The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace
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There are those who are in the flesh—unbelievers [those who are dead] (Rom 8:7-8)
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They are unwilling and unable to submit to God’s rule (Rom 8:7)
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They are unable to please God (Rom 8:8)
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There are those who are in the Spirit—believers [those who have life and peace] (Rom 8:9-11)
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You have the Spirit of God/Christ and belong to Him (Rom 8:9)
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You have a body that is subject to death, but are alive spiritually because of the righteousness of God (Rom 8:10)
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You have the glorious promise/hope of resurrection (Rom 8:11)
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The Spirit gives us a new obligation and new position (Rom 8:12-17)
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Our new obligation—to live by the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the body (Rom 8:12-13)
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The reality—believers have no obligation to the flesh (Rom 8:12-13a)
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The responsibility—believers are responsible to be putting to death—by the Spirit—the deeds of the body (Rom 8:13b)
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Our new position—sons of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Rom 8:14-17)
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We are sons of God: we are led by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14)
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We have intimacy with God: we are crying out Abba! Father!—rather than cringing in fear like slaves (Rom 8:15)
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We have assurance from God: we are confident that we are children of God—because of the Spirit’s witness with our spirit (Rom 8:16)
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We have hope in God: we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—suffering with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him (Rom 8:17)
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The gospel seals us for glory in God’s sovereign plan and power (Rom 8:18-30)
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We have the promise/hope of glory, which incomparably outweighs our present suffering (Rom 8:18-25)
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The Apostle’s inspired reckoning—we will experience glory that is incomparably greater than any temporal sufferings now known (Rom 8:18)
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The anxious longing of creation—it waits eagerly for our glorification (Rom 8:19-22)
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Creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom 8:19)
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Creation was subjected to futility—in hope (Rom 8:20)
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Creation will be set free from its slavery to corruption (Rom 8:21)
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Creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth (Rom 8:22)
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The anxious longing of believers—we wait eagerly for our glorification (Rom 8:23-25)
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Believers [those who have the first fruits of the Spirit] wait for the future aspect of our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body (Rom 8:23)
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Believers [those who have the first fruits of the Spirit] wait in hope for that which they do not currently see (Rom 8:24-25)
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Hope is faith that looks forward to promises yet fulfilled (Rom 8:24)
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Hope is evidenced by perseverance in waiting eagerly for God’s promises to come to pass (Rom 8:25)
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We have the provision and prayers of the Spirit, who intercedes for us according to the will of God (Rom 8:26-27)
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We have the Spirit’s provision in our weakness (Rom 8:26a)
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We have the Spirit’s prayers of intercession on our behalf (Rom 8:26b-27)
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He intercedes for us in our ignorance (Rom 8:26b)
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He intercedes for us according to the will of God (Rom 8:27)
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We have the predetermined plan of God, which invariably leads to conformity to Christ’s image, and eternal glory (Rom 8:28-30)
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God’s predetermined plan providentially orders all things to ultimately work out for the good of those He has called (Rom 8:28)
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God’s predetermined plan has foreordained our conformity to Christ’s image (Rom 8:29)
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God’s predetermined plan includes our effectual call, our justification, and our glorification (Rom 8:30)
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Security—freedom to live victoriously no matter the circumstances we may face, because of God’s indestructible love in Christ (Rom 8:31-39)
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The indestructible love of God extolled in poetic form (Rom 8:31-37)
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If God is for us—who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)
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If God did not spare His own Son—what good thing will He withhold from us? (Rom 8:32)
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If God justifies—who will bring a charge against His elect? (Rom 8:33)
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If Christ died, rose, and intercedes for us at the right hand of God—who is the one who condemns us? (Rom 8:34)
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If Christ loves us—who or what will separate us from His love (Rom 8:35-37)
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The rhetorical question (Rom 8:35a)
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The realities of what believers may face (Rom 8:35b-36)
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A summary list (Rom 8:35b)
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Trouble
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Pressure
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Persecution
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Hunger
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Nakedness
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Danger
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Death
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A scriptural reference—Psalm 44:22 (Rom 8:36)
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The recognition of believers’ overwhelming victory through Christ (Rom 8:37)
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We will triumph spiritually
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Our triumph is because of Christ and His love for us
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The indestructible love of God apprehended by faith (Rom 8:38-39)
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The comprehensive list of potential threats to our eternal security (Rom 8:38b-39a)
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Death can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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Life [circumstances] can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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Angelic beings can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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Rulers can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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Current events can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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Future events can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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Miraculous powers can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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The highest height in the universe can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ
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The deepest depths in the universe can’t separate from the love of God in Christ
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The conviction of faith concerning the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38a, Rom 8:39b)
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A Spirit-inspired conviction and confirmation (Rom 8:38a)
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A sovereign guarantee and Guarantor (Rom 8:39b)
1 [Alternate Outline for Rom 7:14-25]
3. The picture of trying to pursue sanctification under the Law [or the problem of trying to pursue sanctification under the Law; or the problem of trying to serve God by the letter of the law rather than the Spirit] (Rom 7:14-25)
2 The following four sub-points of this outline are adapted from Kevin McAteer’s sermon notes on Rom 8:1-4.