Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School

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PFHL Course 200-- Basic Christianity– A Study Guide of Romans 8 & 12

(by Bill Stevenson)

Directions: First try to determine what the different way of formatting Scripture in this study is
teaching. Why the indenting? Why the underlining and bold font usage? Then
answer the questions for Romans 8. An essay is required for relating to Romans
12. This assignment is worth 4 units, so write at least 6 quality pages.
1. What is the context of the great promise in Romans 8:1?
2. What apparently did the Christians in Rome need to be assured of?

Romans 8
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.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free
from the Law of sin and death.
3. This promise is one of the greatest ones for true Christians because it can give them proper
confidence in the worse situations. But every one of God’s promises has at least one
requirement or condition. Why is the promise so very important especially in times when
one is being persecuted for his or her moral/ethical living (Christ-likeness)?
4. What does this promise personally mean to you?
5. What is the condition and what are the two requirements of that?
6. What does the word “according” mean?
7. How can you be “in Christ Jesus”? Read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.
8. How can you “not walk according to the flesh”? See Galatians 5:19-21, Romans 1:18-32,
Ephesians 4:17-5:12, and 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
9. How can you “walk according to the Spirit”? See Ephesians 5:15-21, Romans 12, and
Galatians 5:22-6:10.

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,
4 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.
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.

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 6 For to be carnally minded is death,
but to be spiritually minded is 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.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

10. What is “the Law of sin and death”?

11. What is “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ”?
12. Read Romans 3:10-6:23, Galatians 3:16-29 & 5:1-18, and John 14:12-15:17.
Write an essay about what the passages teach and command.
13. What do Romans 8:3-4 mean to you? Also see 1 Corinthians 15.
14. Give specific examples of setting one’s mind on “the things of the flesh”?
What have been your worse temptations in thinking?
15. Give specific examples of setting one’s mind on “the things of the Spirit”?
What have been your worse temptations in thinking?
16. What do Romans 8:6-9a mean to you?
17. What is the peace of God that a righteous believer can feel even in times of opposition?
Read Philippians 4:4-8, Romans 14:17, and 1 John 1:9.
18. How does the Holy Spirit dwell in a believer? Reread Proverbs 3:5-8.
How do you discern the Holy Spirit communicating and not selfish desires? Read what Jesus
Christ said about the Holy Spirit in John 14-16 before answering these two questions.

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 [or she] is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you,
the body is dead because of sin,
but the spirit is life
because of righteousness.
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.
12 Therefore, brethren [and sisters], we are debtors--
not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
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.
19. What does it mean to “have the Spirit of Christ”? See Galatians 4:1-7
What does the phrase “Christ is in you” mean?
20. When is an individual “His” [Jesus Christ]?
21. What does Romans 8:10 mean to you?
22. What is “Him” in verse 11 and “the Spirit of Him”?
23. What does the phrase “dwells in you” mean?
24. How can the Holy Spirit “give life” to individual’s “mortal bodies”? Read Ephesians 2.

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25. Who are Christians debtors to and why?
26. What is the big responsibility of each Christian and how is it done?

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

these are sons [and daughters] of God.
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”.
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
17 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.
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.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation
eagerly waits for the revealing of
the sons [and daughters] of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility,
not willingly,
but because of Him Who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also
will be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that
the whole creation groans and labors
with birth pangs together until now.
23 Not only that, but we also
who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
eagerly waiting for the adoption,
the redemption of our body.
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 [or she] sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see,
we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

27. What does Romans 8:14-15 mean to you? Read John 1:12 and 1 John 3 before answering.
Also, the Epistle to the Galatians speaks to the implied issues.
28. Personally paraphrase Proverbs 3:5-8 and the Golden Rule.
29. What does verse 15 mean? Read Romans 6, 1 John 4:15-19, and 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2
before answering.
30. What does this passage personally really mean to you? Read 1 Corinthians 15, 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18, and 1 Peter 3 before answering.

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26 Likewise the [Holy] Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.
For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,
but the [Holy] Spirit Himself makes intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
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.
31. What does this passage tell you about the Holy Spirit?
32. Have you experienced feeling helpless when praying for yourself or for others? If so,
describe that experience. If not, describe what kind of situation might happen that you would
be involved in during which you might have such a prayer experience.
33. What is intercession in this context? Before answering, read Philippians 4:6-7.

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.
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 [and Christian sisters].
30 Moreover whom He predestined,
these He also called;
whom He called,
these He also justified;
and whom He justified,
these He also glorified.
34. What does this passage mean to you? Why is the promise in verse 28 so important?
35. Why are the verbs in verses 29 and 30 past tense? See Ephesians 2:4-10 before answering.

31 What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against 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?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
It is God Who justifies.
34 Who is he [or she] 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.

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35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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]
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him Who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that
neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities nor powers,
nor things present nor things to come,
39 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.
36. Do you have such Christian faith and courage? If your answer is “yes”, share a personal
testimony. If your answer is “no”, describe a situation in which such courage would be
needed.
37. How do Romans 8:1-15, Philippians 1:2-6, and Hebrews 12:1-3 relate to this passage?

Directions for rest of the course: First read the following special formatting of Romans 12.
Notice the switch of the location of verses 9-14. Why do you
think that the gift of mercy has so many verses which relate to
it? Then write an essay to answer the question for this part of
the course: What are some of the possible main goals for a
Christian wanting to live by the Holy Spirit?
Romans 12
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers [and sisters], in view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--
this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--
His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.

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 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man's [or woman's] gift is prophesying,
let him [or her] use it in proportion to his [or her] faith.
9 Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.
7a If it is serving, let him [or her] serve;
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
7b Honor one another above yourselves.
if it is teaching, let him [or her] teach;
11 Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord.
8a if it is encouraging [exhorting], let him [or her] encourage [exhort];
12 Be
joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
8b if it is contributing [giving] to the needs of others, let him [or her] give generously;
13 Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
8c if it is leadership, let him [or her] govern diligently;
14 Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse.
8d if it is showing mercy, let him [or her] do it cheerfully.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another.
[“Be of the same mind toward one another.”]
Do not be proud, [“Do not set your mind on high things.”]
but be willing to associate with people of low position [the humble].
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God's wrath,
for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay”, says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him [or her];
if he [or she] is thirsty, give him [or her] something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his [or her] head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.