We Are Free from the Condemnation of Sin (vv. 1-4)

We are free from condemnation if we are in Christ (v. 1)

This statement’s word “Therefore” connects to something Paul previously said. So, what did Paul say? “Therefore” in verse one takes us back to verse six of chapter seven.

⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code (Romans 7:6, ESV).
Paul introduces the idea of being released from the Law of God, specifically, the Law of Moses. Since we are released from the law, we now serve in the new way of the Spirit. Paul expands upon this idea in verses twenty-four and twenty-five.
²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin (Romans 7:24-25, ESV).

Paul recognizes that he is a wretched man unable to keep the law in this sinful flesh. But, he can now serve the Law of God with his mind because He has life in Jesus Christ. If you have life in Jesus Christ, you also serve the Law of God with your mind.

The truth is there are only two groups of people in this world:

• You are either in Christ.
• Or, you are not in Christ.

If you are in Christ, then you have realized how sinful you are in relationship to the Holy God. Because of your sin, you can do nothing to satisfy God. You cannot earn His favor. As we unpack the text before us, we will see this is the very point Paul is making. As sinners, we cannot fulfill Moses’s Law and satisfy God.

We are free from condemnation by the law of the Spirit of Life (v. 2)

While Paul speaks of The Law of Moses throughout this letter to the Romans, it is important to note that in verse 2, “law” is not the law of Moses. In verse two, Paul uses “law” to speak of power over us. So, he contrasts the powers that the followers of Jesus Christ wrestle with. The Law of the Spirit of life is to be understood as the principle by which the Holy Spirit works. The Holy Spirit is the life-giving spirit. He desires to give life to us.

So, Paul contrasts the law (or power) of the Spirit of Life with the law (or power) of sin and death over us. The two are opposed to each other. All of us are born into this world under the power of sin and death. Only those in Christ can have the power of the Spirit of life to overcome the law of sin and death.

We are free from condemnation because Christ fulfilled all righteousness (vv. 3-4)

Paul now turns our attention back to the law of Moses in verses three and four. Our flesh is too weak to fulfill the law. This weakness of the flesh does not mean we cannot do good things in the flesh. But it does mean that when we do things outside of the bounds of the law, then we have sinned against God. We are powerless to rightly fulfill the Law of Moses. But God answered this weakness in us by sending Jesus Christ.

When Jesus came “in the likeness of sinful flesh,” He fully participated in the flesh. Jesus, being in the flesh, did not sin. But Jesus was fully human. He participated in the flesh in that…

• …He was not immune from death – he died on the cross.
• …He was not immune from sickness, although we have no record that He ever became sick. We do know, however, that there were times when He slept and rested.
• …He was not immune to temptation. Jesus began His public ministry, being tempted by the devil. Yet, he remained sinless in the temptation!

It is through the sinless life of Jesus Christ that God did what our weak flesh could not do.

So, Paul asserts we would fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. How is this fulfilled in us? The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled because the life and work of Jesus is applied to our lives by the presence of the Holy Spirit. So, we are free from the condemnation of sin because…

• …we are in Christ.
• …by the law of the Spirit of life.
• …because Christ fulfilled all righteousness.

Paul has demonstrated we are free from the condemnation of sin. He now builds upon this and turns our attention to our freedom from the control of sin.

Our Freedom from The Control of Sin (vv. 5-17)

The Summary (vv. 5-8)

Paul summarizes our freedom from the control of sin through a series of four contrasts in verses five through seven. As we look at these contrasts, please note Paul’s use of the word “mind.” Five times, Paul speaks of our mind. So, Paul is indicating to us that the new life we possess in Christ because of the work of the Spirit begins with our mind.

We rightly understand the mind to be:

• Intellect – our ability to reason.
• Emotion – our ability to react.
• Will – our ability to respond.

So, in these contrasts, we must think about them in terms of the whole mind.

• It is not just knowing these things are true.
• It is not just setting our affection on these things.
• It is not just a stoic decision to do these things.

Rather, it is all of these working together in unity to demonstrate our life in Christ through what we think, feel, and do.

So, let’s approach these contrasts with the understanding that there is a practical emphasis to grasp.

We have freedom in the Spirit, Not in the Flesh

⁵ 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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5, ESV).

The flesh speaks of sin. We are born sinners who are dead in our spirits toward God. Because we are dead in our spirits toward God, we do not desire, nor do we obey God. The sinner cannot help but think in sinful ways. Although the sinner may ponder questions about God, His existence, and God’s relationship to the world, the sinner has no desire to obey God. When we are in the state of sin, we are spiritually dead toward God.

The Spirit speaks of salvation and sanctification. When we repent of our sins and turn toward Christ, the Spirit takes residence in us – this is the indwelling presence of the Spirit. In that moment, God declares us “not guilty,” and we are free from the penalty of sin. Christ’s work in His death covers our sin record. He took the penalty of our sin for us.

At this moment, the Spirit of Life resurrects our dead spirit and reconciles us with God so that we are alive in Christ. Our whole perspective on life changes. The Holy Spirit now directs our minds toward spiritual things. The work of the Spirit in our lives does not mean we will be perfect. Not one of us will be perfect in this life. If we are in Christ, we have the Spirit to guide us in living, not just existing.

Our Minds Are Set On The Spirit, Not On The Flesh

Paul continues the thought in verse six to give the second contrast.

⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6, ESV).

The result of the work of the Spirit in our lives is to lead us to life. Remember what Paul has already said in Romans 7:24-25. As hard as we might try to keep the Law of Moses, our flesh fails us. We are incapable of keeping the Law of Moses. So much that Paul said, “with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” So, Paul asked, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The sinner’s mindset on the flesh brings about death. But, the mind of the follower of Jesus Christ is directed by the Spirit.

So, when the mind is set on the Spirit, it brings about life! Let’s not forget the Words of Jesus recorded in John 10:10.

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10, ESV).

Jesus made this statement in the context of proclaiming, “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus cares for us like a shepherd cares for his sheep. A shepherd does all he can to protect his sheep from injury and death. He desires to lead his sheep to live the best life.

So, it is with Christ, our great shepherd. Through the work of the Spirit in our lives, we are led to life and not death. It will not be an easy life. It will not be the perfect life. But it is a life that is more than just merely existing!

We Are at Peace with God, Not At War

⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot (Romans 8:6-7, ESV).

The harsh truth is that every one of us is either at war with God or we are at peace with God. Paul sets peace alongside life in verse six. Peace is the state of tranquility. Where tranquility exists, there is security, safety, and prosperity. In this context, Paul is speaking of the peace that comes from the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Do not lose sight of Paul’s contrast; you are either at peace with God or at war with God. Notice in verse 7 the harshness with which Paul speaks of being at war with God. If you are at war with God, there is hostility (enmity) between you and God. This hostility indicates that you possess a hatred for God. It may be that not only do you have hatred for God, but you possess a hatred of God. This hostility is expressed in your unwillingness to submit to God’s law. Remember, the flesh is weak and cannot fulfill the law of God. We need help.

We Please God, Not Ourselves

⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8, ESV).

This contrast is a transitional statement to Paul’s explanation in verses nine through seventeen. It is not stated as an explicit contrast, as are the other three. But think through this: what is the alternative to pleasing God? In other words, if you are not pleasing God, who are you pleasing? The key word in this statement (as it has been in all the contrasts) is “flesh.” If you are not pleasing God, then you are pleasing yourself. You are satisfying your sinful flesh.
Note the firmness with which Paul makes this statement. He does not say, “Those who are in the flesh might not please God.” He does not say, “Those who are in the flesh are in danger of not pleasing God.” This is not even a warning to be careful to avoid displeasing God. This is a direct, firm statement, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

The Explanation (vv. 9-11)

So, with these four contrasts before us, Paul transitions into the explanation in verses nine through eleven.

Our Salvation – The Indwelling Spirit

Verse nine speaks of our salvation. Paul is very direct, “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if, in fact, the Spirit of God dwells in you (Romans 8:9).” The Holy Spirit who works by the principle of the Law of the Spirit of Life is the agent of salvation. So much so, Paul further explains that if the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are in the Spirit, not the flesh.

Our Sanctification – The Illuminating Spirit

Not only is the Holy Spirit the agent of our salvation, but His work in us is also to sanctify us. He is working in us to make us more like Jesus. This life we live in, becoming more like Jesus, results from the resurrection (verses 10 & 11). If the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life, how can He give life to a dead sinner if Jesus is not resurrected? Thus, Paul says in verse 10, “…the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Jesus proclaimed at His baptism that He came to fulfill the Law. Jesus lived a sinless life in the flesh so that He could present Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross. In doing so, He fulfilled the righteous requirement of the Law. Because He defeated death and the grave, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life and brings eternal, abundant life to those who believe!

You and I could not fulfill the righteous requirement of the law in our weak flesh. But, Jesus fulfilled it for us! Therefore, sin no longer controls you if you follow Jesus Christ! This leads us then to the application Paul sets before us.

The Application (vv. 12-17)

Put to death the deeds of the body (vv. 12-13).

We are not debtors to the flesh if we are in Christ. So, the Holy Spirit works in us to help us put to death the deeds of the body. No longer living under the control of sin is the true life.

Live to honor your heavenly Father (vv. 14-16).

This is an awesome truth of salvation. We who were once hostile toward God, enemies with God, are now children of God. Think of it! God had every right to condemn us to eternal hell. Instead, He chose to condemn sin by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law that you and I could not fulfill. In doing so, when we repent of our sins and turn to Christ, the Spirit of life takes up residence in us and makes us a child of God! Now, we enjoy the blessings of sonship. Live according to the Spirit of life who indwells you so that you honor your heavenly Father!

Live in light of eternity! (v. 17).

Our salvation is not a guarantee of an easy life. As long as we live in this sinful world, there will be struggles, even for the children of God. But, the awesome truth of our salvation is that eternity has invaded this life. We can live by the power of the Spirit, knowing that all wrongs will one day be corrected! We look forward to that day when our future glory in eternity becomes a reality.

On that day, we will be FULLY FREE from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin in our lives!