CONTEXT OF ROMANS 8
from You Version

After encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul shifted from attacking Christians to dedicating his life to sharing Christ’s message. Romans is the most robust explanation Paul gives of the Gospel, and it was written to a church experiencing significant division. Some believed that salvation was exclusively for Jews, and others believed the truth that Jesus offers a new way, available to both Jews and Gentiles. 

In the “Nothing Can Separate” curriculum, we’re going to take a closer look at Romans chapter 8 and discover that God’s love is… 

1) Love That Sets Us Free (Rom. 8:1-14) 

2) Love That Makes Us Brave (Rom. 8:15-17) 

3) Love That Gives Us Hope (Rom. 8:18-30) 

4) Love That Never Leaves (Rom. 8:31-39) 

Prayerfully, through this study, we will gain a deeper understanding of God’s love so that we can deeply love one another!

THREE THINGS CHRISTIANS ARE FREE FROM

1) Condemnation 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Condemnation, the enemy’s tool to shame us for our sin, differs from conviction, where the Holy Spirit gently reminds us of our identity in Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are no longer bound by the weight of guilt and shame! 

2) Sin 

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Rom. 8:9). Jesus’ love led Him to the cross, and we receive the Spirit through faith in Him. The Spirit empowers us, freeing us from the need to give into our sinful desires. 

3) Death

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11). Because Jesus conquered death, we no longer need to fear it. As Christians, death is simply the transition into an eternity of enjoying God’s presence! 

Big Idea

God’s love sets us free from condemnation, sin and death!

LET’S THINK ABOUT THIS

Question #1: What is one thing that “jumped out” to you while reading Romans 8:1-14? 

Question #2: Which of the three things that God’s love sets us free from (condemnation, sin and death) resonated the most with you? 

Question #3: What’s something creative you can do to practically demonstrate God’s love to people who don’t know Him?