Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to deal with sin. He condemned sin in the flesh so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
Paul is saying there are two kinds of people. Those who are “in Christ” and those who are not “in Christ”. Paul has made it clear in the body of the letter to Romans how we move from being outside of Christ (in Adam) to being in Christ.
Note the way he has structured his comments in this passage:
- for those who are in union with Christ Jesus.
- for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
- for what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son.
- For who? For those who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Notice too the involvement of the complete Trinity. Son, Father and Spirit.
God the Father sent God the Son to save sinful people and enabled them to live righteous lives by the Power of God the Spirit.
This passage combines together the teaching on justification and sanctification. Both go together. You can’t have one without the other.
- Sanctification (holiness) fulfils the law
- Sanctification is the goal of justification
- Sanctification is absolutely essential for sinful people to later be able to stand in the presence of a holy God.
- Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Suffice to note at this point that Romans 8:5 begins with “for” as well. But we will deal with that verse in the next Gem.
My alarm clock wakes me up but my goals get me out of bed.
A R Bernard
The pain of staying the way we are is much worse than the pain of changing.
Joyce Meyer