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. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 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, 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. 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. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:1-6
Greetings friends, I hope your new year is off to a well intentioned life abiding in Christ. For those of you who are struggling, those of you who are feeling a sense of guilt, or shame. For those who have to admit that there is no peace in my heart right now. There is good news. Renewed hope and the letting go of the past is only part of what God wants to see done in your lives. Let’s take a look. From our passage today, in particular verse 1, no condemnation—There is probably a handful of Scripture verses that people in the church have gave testimony to as being a “life changing” verse. Here is one of them. For so many years Christians have lived their lives in constant condemnation, perhaps their spirits were willing, but their flesh was weak. These are people who are constantly apologizing to God for the slip of their tongues, or for their thoughts of hatred or lust. Always promising God, “I’ll do better next time.” Repenting, saying your sorry week after week. Only to feel even more guilt because you didn’t own up to your end of the promise. Not wanting to do “those things” is only the initial start of what God says in His Word what I ought not to do. By the way, I am describing myself when I gave these examples. But the life lived with no condemnation now there is something to rejoice in. That is good news for the Christian saint, loved by God that knows what your feeling right now. He sees your struggles with sin, and your flesh. See in fact, as Paul wrote chapter 8 of Romans in particular verse 1, There is therefore—it is the result of the truth just taught previously in chapter 7. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin (Romans 7:24-25)
In frustration and grief, Paul laments his sin, indicating to us that a believer perceives his own sinfulness in direct proportion to how clearly he sees the holiness of God and perfection of His law. So we conclude that justification is by faith alone on the basis of God’s overwhelming grace. Condemnation—Occurs three times in the New Testament, and all in the book of Romans, “condemnation” is used judicially and is opposite of justification, refers to a guilty verdict and all the penalty that verdict demands. So what Paul is revealing through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is that no sin a believer can commit—past, present, or future—can be held against him, since the penalty was paid in full by Christ and His righteousness has been (meaning already has occurred) imputed to us as believers. And there can be no sin that we can commit to ever reverse this divine legal decision. Every true Christian is united in Christ, and is one with Him.
The Spirit has replaced the law that produced only sin and death with a new and simple law that produces life by the law of faith. So I can say, “There is a new law that is working in me,” the law of the Spirit of life that God has written in my heart. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). And it is the words “in Christ,”—that make all of the difference to us. For in Christ, there is an inexhaustible significance of the believer’s redemption, justification, sanctification working in all of our circumstances. Either from a past tense, meaning it has already occurred, or present tense, that it is still a work in progress, God is at work in the believers life to create an atmosphere of love and trust in His power through His Holy Spirit. God now accepts what is in my heart. My love for Him through worship, my desires to be pleasing to Him, God now accepts and even directs and even controls my desires in this new life. It is interesting as I surrender my heart to the Lord, even my desires change so dramatically as I now am in Christ. For what I could not do through obeying the Mosaic Law, that is, have a righteous standing before God, God has done for me by sending His Son, Jesus Christ in the flesh.
Things of the flesh, things of the Spirit—Now man is made of three parts, an inferior trinity. He is body, mind, and spirit. The mind being synonymous with the soul, the consciousness of man. And this consciousness of man is responsive to whatever controls man. So if a man is controlled by his fleshly appetites, these are the things written for us in Galatians chapter 5: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Though not every person manifests all of these sins nor exhibits them to the same degree, yet these sins characterize the sinful flesh that we all battle against. For it wants to rule over us, but we master over it. By realizing that Christ died for these sins, and thus since I am in Him, I too have died to these things. Now I must set my mind on Spiritual things, for these produce in me life and peace. Paul went on to say, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-24). These are the Christ-like virtues that are consistent with godly character and attitudes of those only who belong to God by faith in Jesus Christ, and possess the Spirit of God in them.
Beloved friend, This quick review of Scriptural doctrine are the things which must not be compromised with. We must remain steadfast in our daily reading of Scripture, of the leading of the Holy Spirit, and of being in fellowship with other believers. These are evidences that we belong to God, and are in His Son. And this Spiritual life results in glorious peace. If you are struggling in your Christian walk, be still for moment before the Lord, seek His heart for your situation. You’ll find out that He loves you more than can be humanly possible. He desires only what is best for you. And if given over to Him daily, will lead you through your circumstances and into glorious times and seasons in your life of indescribable joy! It is only scratching the surface of all that God has in store for you. Joy, happiness and excitement are often tried to be equated with earthly pleasures, but when we learn that these originate from worshiping a holy God, we can be in His presence with songs of praise and the warmth of His presence. Father God, blessed is the reader who is turning to You by faith, to work in their lives, Your perfect and pleasing will. In Jesus name, amen.
May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!
