Romans 8: 1 – 11
This Chapter is so very full of conclusions and deep powerful Theology. There is no way that I could make even the smallest dent in a 5 minute homily. I used for much of my source the magnificent knowledge of Anglican Bishop N.T. Wright. While there are some differences between Anglican and Latin Catholicism, I do not believe that this of too much concern in studying Chapter 8 of Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
For full disclosure, though, he is speaking to a mostly protestant community at Trinity Divinity School. There was a 7 part video from talks he held over a 3 day period regarding Chapter 8 of Romans.Some of the terms used may be different based upon his British upbringing as well as advanced academic phraseology. however he always explains his terms and how he uses them. I have added a few things to the homily below (Excluded for time) which I have put these additions below in blue
Over the last couple of weeks or so we have been reading Paul’s letter to the Romans. This letter is foundational to our faith. Not just because it is written to the Church in Rome but it is so very deep in theology and a very good example of how people in those days would make a case for something.
We know quite a bit about Paul and his background, He studied under one of the great Rabbis of the time. This is shown clearly as the amount of Scripture either alluded to or quoted is enormous. He pulls from many parts of the Torah and He pulls from the Prophets. He pulls from seemingly everywhere.
A Symphony for the Eyes and Ears
Paul is almost creating a symphony in this letter, many different parts all combining to make one luxurious piece.
The argument he is making is pretty simple though. God remembered His covenant promises.
It is important to recognize that Paul is making an argument to show the Jewish and God fearing Greeks, that all of God’s covenant promises have been fulfilled. He has been doing this for 7 previous chapters. So much of the argumentation here is encumbant upon reading the previous chapters. (Should one listen to Bishop Wrights lecture he does bring all the threads together.) There are many references in Paul’s letter to in particular Deuteronomy Exodus, Isaiah etc. The stories should be familiar to those reading this.
A warning though as we move into the reading… There are many that have passed along some very bad information on this letter.
God does not think that the body bad and the soul is good. Many will preach about such things, but remember at all times, we were told in the creation story…that God looked around at everything that he had made and saw that it was all good!
Body and Spirit
I mention this warning because, Paul uses the words Spirit and body about 20 times in today’s reading. He is obviously trying to say something more than just the words we heard. I mentioned earlier that Paul alludes to various Bible scriptures. It is important that we can look back to the part of Bible he is using as a basis.
His current writing all started a bit earlier in the previous chapters
But, from Deuteronomy Chapter 30 we read
“See, I have today set before you life and good, death and evil.”
This particular quote has Moses speaking of the Covenant between Israel and God. Should Israel decide to be faithful to the covenant it shall have life and good. Should it not be faithful to God death and evii
Explanation of Body and Spirit
So Paul is echoing this and mentions that the flesh is death and the spirit is life. What is he trying to say here? It is not that the flesh itself is evil… but it is let us say a code word for unfaithfulness to the Covenant. In the same way, it is not that the spirit in itself is good… but it is a code word for righteousness.
We must remember that Paul is now alluding to the quote in Torah above. He is making the connection between the covenant faithfulness to not only Israel’s actions over the decades but our own actions and faithfulness
We know from many of the readings in the Bible that Israel was not faithful to their side of the Covenant.
Yet the Covenant Promise states that God would save the world through Israel.
How in the world could God save the world through Israel if Israel itself was not faithful??? God had a way but it was not of this world… but the solution would become part of the world. Someone would have to stand in for Israel and be faithful.
Faith in God explained
The first line of the reading says simply “Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That is not a promise that everyone in the entire world who believes in Christ will be saved, but rather it is an introduction to explain what the phrase “those who are in Christ” actually means. He is pointing out with those 20 uses of spirit and body who is actually in Christ.
It is very easy to get pulled into thinking Gnostic ways simply because he uses these terms so many times. Hence the warning placed at the beginning. Bishop Wright continuously reiterates orthodox Catholic thoughts on these matters. Particularly as the rest of the chapter. However he is quick to refute the “sola fides” argument but augment this with the orthodox understanding of saved by grace through faith
Paul is making the connection that Moses pointed out a few minutes ago, that the spirit which conforms with God is in Christ. Those who are concerned with idolatry, greed, avarice etc. step outside of the covenant and cannot be in Christ.
Justification
Jesus Christ is the good news… he is the gospel. Paul points out that reading through this Good News, God’s covenant faithfulness is unveiled”.
Paul realizes that all of the Torah all of the prophets all of the Bible all point to God over time fulfilling His Covenant that God would save the world through Israel.
Jesus becomes the faithful Israelite who was sent for the benefit of all who believe. The world was [indeed] saved through Israel…. An Israelite with full faithfulness. Jesus has complete faithfulness of God’s saving purpose. Complete faithfulness all the way through his Death on the Cross.
This is why the Incarnation of Jesus Christ is so important. God the perfect faithful God-Man came down to earth and fulfilled God’s Spirit of righteousness.
The Spirit (faithfulness) of Jesus is complete faithfulness to God. Jesus put the flesh of the world behind him to fulfill the covenant. What was lost by Adam was returned by Jesus.
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be finishing up the Letter to the Romans… I encourage you to read and enjoy the entire symphonic letter as we go along. This is the Gospel… this is the great news of Jesus Christ!