Romans Chapter 8 Breakdown

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

There is no condemnation, or blame, for those who believe in Yeshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, as we just learned in the previous chapter this means continually sinning. But the no condemnation comes to those who are walking according to the spirit, which means those who align themselves with YHWH’s law. When we take the whole of Romans as one letter, as it was intended, and not breaking it up chapter by chapter we can see a continuous argument for keeping YHWH’s law.

2 Peter 2:9-10

…then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries…

Those who are walking according to the flesh lust for uncleanness and despise authority. We know Moses was given authority by God. Is the Law of God the same authority they despise? Considering walking according to the flesh is in direct opposition to obeying the Law of God, I would say it is.

There is also an argument that there are no longer any unclean things. This passage from Peter seems to directly contradict that idea.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The law of the Spirit, Torah, which is Yeshua (He is the Word (Torah) made flesh). It is the Torah that has made men free from the law of sin and death. This has always been the case, even in the Old Testament.  The law of sin and death goes all the way back to Adam and original sin. When you sin, you will die.

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The Law of God was weak because of the flesh, not the Law itself. YHWH came down in the flesh as Yeshua in order to defeat the law of sin and death and provide the way. The righteous requirement of YHWH’s law can now be achieved by all, including the divorced wife, which was discussed in the last chapter. We can do this by shunning the desires of the flesh and walking in the ways of Torah, which is walking according to the Spirit. The biggest thing that stands out to me here is Paul says the “righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh”. This indicates that those who are walking according to the desires of the flesh will not meet the righteous requirement of the law. Now, does this mean men cannot make a mistake and sin? No, of course it does not mean that. We have Yeshua there with Grace because we will mess up. But, we should be trying to keep the law out of love. Again, I do not believe any man can be saved by keeping the Law of God.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Those who allow the desires of the flesh to rule their lives are not the same as those who live according to the Spirit. To walk in the flesh is contrary to walking in the Spirit. Paul gives no third option, this becomes important later in the chapter.

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Living in accordance to the desires of the flesh brings death. Living according to the Spirit (Torah), brings life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

The carnal mind, which is not under the law of YHWH, is hostile toward YHWH and cannot be subject to His law. This verse is absolutely huge. Let’s think about this for a second. It is the carnal, non-spiritual mind that is against YHWH’s word. Remember from chapter seven Paul tells us YHWH’s law is spiritual. The carnal mind is not subject to YHWH’s law and it is agreed that it is the carnal mind that is walking according to the flesh. Therefore, we can conclude it is those who are subject to the Law of God that are not of the carnal mind. The reason for this is those who are in the carnal mind do not keep the law of YHWH. Remember, there were only two options given by Paul earlier, either you walk in the flesh, or you walk in the Spirit. By choosing to not keeping His law, is to continuously sin, because as 1 John 5:3 states, sin is the breaking of the Law of God. Continuous sin is to be in a state of hate toward YHWH, because enmity is hatred.

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

If you are walking in the flesh, or carnal mind, you cannot please YHWH. If this is true, the opposite must also be true. If you are walking in the spiritual mind, that is keeping His laws, you can please YHWH.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

A man does not belong to God, if that man does not have God’s Spirit within him. If the Spirit of YHWH dwells in you, you are no longer living by the desires of the flesh. If you do not have the Spirit of YHWH, you are not YHWH’s. So, what exactly does the Spirit of YHWH do? YHWH tells the prophet Ezekiel, referring specifically to the New Covenant, what exactly His Spirit is sent to do.

Ezekiel 36: 27

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Here is the prophet telling us exactly what Paul is teaching. If you do not have the Spirit of YHWH within you, you will not obey His law and you cannot please Him. Without the Spirit of YHWH, you are living in the flesh. If you are living in the flesh, you do not belong to God, and if you do not belong to God, you are not saved. Now, don’t take this the wrong way. I know how this sounds. It sounds as if I am saying you have to keep the Law of God to be saved, but I am not. I am saying because you are saved, you will choose to keep His Law.

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If you do have His Spirit, the body is dead because sin will still occur, but because you have the Spirit of YHWH your righteousness will be seen by YHWH, because you will keep His commands.

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

YHWH’s Spirit will give your mortal body life, by causing you to keep His law. His Law is life.

Proverbs 13:14

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

The Hebrew word used here for Law is Torah. So, we can read this as, “The Torah of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death”. This too seems to fit perfectly with what Paul is teaching.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

We owe a debt to YHWH for our salvation and that debt is to not live according to the flesh. We are to do our best to keep His law, His way of life.

Proverbs 6:23

For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

13 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.

Living by giving heed to the desires of the flesh will result in your eternal death. But, obeying YHWH’s Law, out of love for Him, will result in eternal life.

Proverbs 7:2

Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye.

To keep the Law of God means you will live, so therefore, not to keep them means you will die. This directly ties into what Paul just said.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

If you are led by the Spirit of YHWH, which causes you to keep His laws, you are considered to be a son of YHWH. This is similar to what Paul said above about belonging to Him.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The spirit of YHWH which causes us to keep the commands was not given to us to cause us to fear we lose salvation if we fail in keeping the law at some point. That is not the point, the desires of the flesh are powerful, and we will most likely fail from time to time. But, doing our best out of love is our goal. God’s Laws are not bondage to us.

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Doing our best, suffering against the desires of the flesh, will ultimately give us a witness and allow us to be heirs of YHWH.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Paul does not believe the sufferings we go through against the desires of the flesh should be considered anything compared to what will be revealed within us later. Basically, the temptation to do the fleshly desire we love the most, that action is nothing compared to how great the revelation will be of God’s Glory.  

19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

All of creation has serious expectations and is waiting to see who are considered the sons of YHWH.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

All of the world was exposed to uselessness in order to give hope. It is all of YHWH’s creation that has been bound to the corruption of sin.

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

All creation is and has been groaning, waiting for the Day of the Lord. When He returns, is the day of Salvation. This stands out to me because it is said we are saved now, once we accept Jesus in our hearts. But, it seems more likely we are given our grace through faith at the return of Christ, our judgment day.  

23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Here Paul says men, within themselves and including himself, are groaning waiting for the adoption and redemption of the body. This verse seems to expound upon what I just said concerning eagerly waiting for the adoption, which is, being brought into Israel, or being saved. Don’t get me wrong, we are saved in our minds, but I do believe being saved is an ongoing process that ultimately ends in our getting new transformed bodies.

24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

We are saved in the hope that we will be redeemed. But, this hope cannot be seen now because faith that can be seen is not truly faith at all.

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Hoping for something we do not see causes us to hope with determination. Being persistent in good deeds of showing our love to not only our neighbor, but the Father as well.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The Spirit is a helper in things we are weak in. Such as interventions on our behalf for what we should pray about. When we pray, we may not always know what to pray about, or even how to pray. But, the Spirit of God working in us will give us the words to say, or say the words for us. Other areas in which we are not good with keeping His Law can be perfected in us because of the Holy Spirit. This aligns with what the prophet Ezekiel says above.

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Spirit makes intercessions for the saints by the will of YHWH. The Spirit knows what we want to do and distinguishes between that and what we actually do. If we do not want to sin, and are working against sinning, but still find ourselves falling into the trap of sin, as a form of Grace, the Holy Spirit will be there for us.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

The things working together for good do so for those who love YHWH, which is the people who are called according to His purpose. YHWH’s purpose is to bring all those who He has called throughout the whole world to His Word, His Torah.

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

If YHWH knew you before you were born, you will be conformed to the ways Yeshua walked, to set an example for many more to come. All of which will follow the way Yeshua walked, which is walking in alignment with Torah while having the faith He will be saved.

30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Those who He knew were appointed before they were believers, and these are those who He called. All who were called will be justified or saved. If one is saved, they will be glorified. But, again, those who will be saved and glorified are those who walk in Torah. It is not faith alone that saves, and it is not deeds alone which saves. These two things work in conjunction with each other.

James 2:14-20

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Faith without deeds is dead. It means nothing. Saying you believe in God, but doing nothing about it is no better than not believing. Yes, one may say I go to church, or I read the Bible, but do you act on it? The biggest thing I notice is many believers will keep a portion of the Law of God. However, they do not claim to do so and actually some argue against keeping it as if it were a bad thing.

To simply believe is not enough, we need to show our belief through our actions. Therefore, we cannot say the Law in which YHWH has given to His people is no longer meaningful. This is what Yeshua walked, as well as all the Apostles, including Paul.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

If YHWH has called us, we know what to do and no one can stop us.

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Because Yeshua was put to death for mankind, surely YHWH will also give all things to those who walk as He walked.

33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

No one can argue against who YHWH chooses to save, because it is YHWH who saves.

34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Paul basically says who cares about he who condemns because we have Yeshua, the Messiah.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Now, what will we allow to separate us from Yeshua? Paul is saying all these things we will suffer, whether it is us specifically or another member of the Body of Yeshua. All of these things are real, horrible conditions, but it is our faith in Yeshua that we must hold fast to through anything troublesome that comes our way. 

36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Psalm 44:22

Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Paul quotes from the Old Testament, yet again, and he says outright, as if this still applies to us, we are slaughtered for the sake of YHWH. Because of our belief, and our deeds, we will be killed or face the previously mentioned conditions. We, as the Body of Christ, must come to terms with the fact that we will face tribulation in our lives. Some of the worst things in the world will fall upon us.

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Even facing these situations, horrible as they may be, we are more than able to conquer it all through Yeshua.

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 There is nothing on this earth, including angels that has the ability to separate us from YHWH. It is only our choice to do so. Paul did say angels here, and that should be a red flag in terms of things to possibly come our way at some point. We know fallen angels were a big part of life during the days of Noah. Which is pretty interesting considering what Yeshua has to say about the end times.

Genesis 6:4

There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Matthew 24:37

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

With that being said, we definitely must be walking in the ways of Yeshua in order to possibly escape these things. Consider this…

Luke 17:26-30

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Both Noah and Lot went through all of these issues, until the very day the earth and Sodom were destroyed. Therefore, we know we will go through a lot of issues before Yeshua is revealed. As Paul says earlier, it is those who are called who are justified and can be removed from the wrath on that day. Those who are called walk just as Yeshua walked.