Constable’s Summary of Chapter 8:
“As the fifth chapter climaxed Paul’s revelation concerning the justification of the sinner, so the eighth culminates the truth concerning the sanctification of the saint. Both chapters end by affirming the eternal security of the believer. In chapter 5 our security depends on the Son’s life and in chapter 8 on the Spirit’s power, both of which rest on the Father’s love. This chapter contains the greatest concentration of references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, an average of one almost every two verses. Whereas there are about 30 occurrences of “I” in chapter 7, there are 17 references to the Holy Spirit in chapter 8. This chapter explains the benefits of sanctification made available through the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. [Note: See Dillow, pp. 358-82.]”
Romans 8:1-4 (WEL) Now there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, [those] who don’t live according to the flesh but according to the spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak due to the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and regarding sin, condemned sin in the flesh, 4 So that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us who don’t live according to the flesh but according to the spirit.
V1 Now there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, [those] who don’t live according to the flesh but according to the spirit.
The Greek word for condemnation is g2631. κατάκριμα katakrima; which means (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) ‘to condemn.’ In human judgment it is the verdict as distinguished from its execution, but the two converge in divine judgment (cf. Mk. 16:16; 1 Cor. 11:32; 2 Pet. 2:6). Both sentence and execution seem to be in view in Rom. 8:3; Paul has in mind the totality of what God has done and does through Christ, i.e., the whole movement from the incarnation to the imparting of the Spirit (v. 4). The condemnation is universally valid but is efficacious only for those who are in Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). It is the removal of the enmity between God and us (Rom. 8:7). The law condemns us and we perish, but in Christ God condemns sin and we are free.”
God’s wrath will not apply to someone who has believed in Jesus. There is no condemnation. In Christ Jesus, believers are included in the body of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:2-13), which is the church (all who believe in Jesus).
Christians are to live a godly lifestyle. There is new life. We don’t live the old way with the old attitudes anymore.
There are in a believer two natures: 1) sinful desires of the fleshly body (Romans 7:5 in NLT) and 2) godly desires of the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
V2 For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and death.
This law is the same as the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). It is the body of rules for believers in this life. This law has freed us from the Law of Sin and Death (Mosaic Law). Mosaic Law failed because of the weakness of the flesh, which is untamable.
V3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak due to the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and regarding sin, condemned sin in the flesh…
Mosaic Law failed because it could not remove the attitudes and deeds of the sin nature. See Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 10:4, and Hebrews 7:18-19. There had to be a renewal, a recreation, of the human heart (soul and spirit).
Without Jesus as the Passover Lamb, there is no salvation. We are too weak to save ourselves. Jesus is sinless and has overcome the world and its desires (John 16:33).
V4 …So that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us who don’t live according to the flesh but according to the spirit.
Mosaic Law required perfection of body, soul, and spirit in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. No human could do so until God the Son, Jesus, was given and sent to the world for the purpose of being the Passover Lamb sacrificed for our salvation.
We learn:
- We are sinful.
- Mosaic Law is impossible to obey perfectly.
- Jesus was given and sent into the world.
- Jesus obeyed Mosaic Law perfectly.
Questions:
- Are you trying to live by Mosaic Law for salvation?
- Are you thankful for the perfect Passover Lamb, the Lord Jesus?