No Condemnation, Life Through the Spirit
Romans 8:1-9 (NLT)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
Message
Paul confessed he was released from the law but still battling the flesh (Romans 7:14-24). But he thanked God that the answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25a). His situation is summarized in Romans 7:25b.
“So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”
I. No Condemnation Through Christ’s Sacrifice (1–4)
Today, Paul starts with the declaration in verse 1.
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Despite of still battling their flesh or sinful nature, Paul declares there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Here, whether they belong to Christ Jesus or not depends on whether the Spirit of Christ is living in them or not (9b).
Paul explains the reason of his declaration. See verse 2.
2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
The power of the life-giving Spirit has freed those who belong to Him from the power of sin that leads to death.
Paul gives more detailed explanations. See verses 3-4.
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
The Son of God Jesus sacrificed for our sins to satisfy the Law’s requirement for forgiving us for our sins.
“no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit” (4b) is
- the result of the sacrifice, through which the Law’s righteous purpose is fulfilled in their lives.
- the way believers must continue to live.
II. Life and Mindset in the Spirit (5–9)
Whether they are dominated by the sinful nature or by the Holy Spirit is shown by whether they think about sinful things or things that please the Spirit (5). You are responsible for letting which one controls your mind. Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death, but letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace (6).
Because the sinful nature is always hostile to God, it never did obey God’s laws, and it never will (7). That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God (8).
Paul simply confirms, “If you have the Spirit of God living in you, you are not controlled by your sinful nature but by the Spirit.” (9a) Paul reminds them that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all (9b).
