The Christian Life from God the Father in Jesus Christ and by means of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6-8)

In this lesson, we are going to begin in the Old Testament with the story of Israel’s exile and return from exile. This will launch us on a journey of our own to the fulfillment of the New Covenant in the New Testament. We will focus our attention on Romans 8. What we will learn from this is the wonderful work of our salvation and sanctification from God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. God says several times in Ezekiel that He poured out His wrath on Israel in the wilderness and would again pour it out on Israel in the time of the prophet, leading to their exile (7.8; 14.19; 20.8, 13, 21; 21.31; cf. Hosea 5.10). The opposite of this is when God promises to pour out His Spirit on people. He pours out His wrath on Israel for not walking in His statutes, but when He pours out His Spirit, He cleanses them from their sins. This is the good news of the New Covenant. Ezekiel 39.29 says, And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.” The New Covenant begins as a hope for Israel, but it is fulfilled for all nations through Jesus Christ. Israel had been sent into exile for her sins, but G...