Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
In chapter seven, Paul pointed out that the law was rendered ineffective because of the fallen nature of mankind. The devout Jews (and Gentiles) who had their hearts awakened to righteousness by the law soon fell into despair when they realized that the law could not produce true peace with God (justification) or give them the power to overcome the flesh/old man (sanctification). 
In fact, the application of the law to their lives produced an awareness of sin that caused their flesh/old man to rise up and sin even more! The law also caused agitation and conflict because it placed them under the inescapable curse of death. So even though the Jews acknowledged the law as divine and perfect, it left them with a sense of hopelessness because it could not give them peace with God. Chapter seven ended with the deep distress and conviction experienced by the penitent sinner.
But now comes the good news! In the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul teaches us that the gospel is powerful and effective; it is capable of doing all that the law could not!
In this chapter, Paul shows us the transition from darkness (condemnation) to light (pardon). This change is available to every person through the atonement of Christ, which means that there is hope for the person who desires to know and obey God!
Romans chapter eight is a very precious portion of scripture that has brought comfort and joy to Christians of every generation. In it, Paul gives us at least six amazing things that the gospel does, which the law could not do. Let’s look at them together.
GENERAL SUMMARY: The law placed mankind in a prison of condemnation where he hopelessly waited for judgment and death. But when Jesus Christ came to earth in the flesh, he provided a way for sinners to be pardoned. Now, all those who have been set free walk by the Spirit instead of obeying their flesh/old man.
DIGGING DEEPER: There is therefore now: Paul has proven that the law places all men under condemnation the moment we break any of its commands. Worse yet, the law does not contain any provision that would allow us to escape the judgment of eternal death which results from that condemnation.
Into this darkness comes the light of the gospel. It can do what the law could not do - it can pardon and sanctify mankind. It can free us from the bondage of sin, discharge the debt we owe to the law, dismiss the penalty of death we are under, and assist/empower us in a life of ongoing holiness and righteousness. All of these benefits are available to us because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
As if that were not enough, there is even more good news - Christians are free of condemnation right now! Right now, we are forgiven. Right now, we are free from condemnation. Right now, we have passed from death to life:
John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I [Jesus] say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
No condemnation: Do not misunderstand the words of Paul. He does NOT mean that Christians no longer sin. Obviously, that is not true. Perfect holiness is what we strive for in this life, but we will not achieve it until the next.
Paul does NOT mean that sin no longer results in condemnation – it still does. Remember, God never changes. He is still perfectly holy, perfectly righteous and perfectly just. He does not simply ignore sin. In God’s economy, every sin brings a penalty which must be paid. This is true under the law AND under the gospel.
The difference is that while the law cannot provide any relief or deliverance for mankind, the gospel can. Jesus came to earth to shed his blood as our Passover lamb. If we embrace his sacrifice as outlined in the gospel, he pays the price for our sin, which makes us free from condemnation and death. Hallelujah! This is the first amazing thing that the gospel does for us.
For those who are in Christ Jesus: What does it mean to be in Christ Jesus?
This phrase describes the mystical, spiritual union between Christ and believers. Scripture sometimes presents it as Christ being in us (II Corinthians 13:5) and at other times as us being in Christ (I John 5:20), but essentially it amounts to the same thing. We might think of it this way: Christ is in believers by his Spirit while believers are in Christ by faith.
The best description of this union is found in John chapter 15 where Jesus describes our relationship this way:
John 15:5 – I [Jesus] am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
We are ‘in Christ Jesus’ when we place our faith in him as our Redeemer/Savior, obey him as the Head of the church, abide in him as our Lord, and serve him as our King. In other words, we are not in Christ due to mere profession or by the accomplishment of good works. We are in him when a true relationship exists between us.
Who walk not after the flesh: This particular phrase (who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit) does not appear in verse one in most ancient biblical manuscripts. For this reason, your modern-day version may not include it, or it may be referenced in the footnotes. Interestingly, the phrase DOES appear in the ancient manuscripts at the end of verse four.
A couple of different explanations have been offered to account for this discrepancy. 
One theory says that the duplication of the phrase in verse one is an error of the copyist. Remember, back in ancient times there were no word processors, copy machines or even typewriters. Copies of the scriptures were made by hand and even though the copyists were very careful, mistakes were no doubt made.
The second theory says that the copyist intentionally inserted the phrase into verse one as an explanatory comment, or to make a smoother transition from verse one to verse two.
Regardless of the circumstances, we will go ahead and comment on this phrase now.
The term ‘walk’ is frequently used in scripture to mean the way we conduct ourselves or the way we live our lives.
To walk according to the flesh/old man is to willingly sell yourself to sin; to actively embrace or gratify every form of evil that your flesh desires. This describes the life that every sinner lives.
But after the Spirit: To walk according to the Spirit is to willingly dedicate yourself to a life of holiness which is pleasing to God. To walk after the Spirit is to crucify your sinful desires, striving to walk in the paths of righteousness and obedience that God commands (Galatians 5:24).
Obviously, we are not perfect. We may stumble or falter on occasion, but the overall course of the Christian is grow/mature in the faith and become more like Christ every day. This process of sanctification is led by Holy Spirit, our constant comforter and guide.
Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
GENERALMMARY: Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life. When we hear the gospel message, he convicts us of sin and then leads us to salvation in Christ which frees us from the law of sin and death.
DIGGING DEEPER: For the law: Law is used in the sense of an inward principle of action, operating with fixed regularity (like gravity).
When we place our faith in Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit immediately enters our heart. He creates a law or a standard within us which rules/governs our lives. In this passage, Paul speaks of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ as being the opposite of the law of sin and death.
Of the Spirit of life: Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life. He is the Spirit of God and so he has life in himself, just as the Father and Son do:
John 5:26 - For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Holy Spirit produces spiritual life in mankind by convicting them of sin and leading them to redemption in Christ. He then gives life by indwelling our hearts, and aiding us in the process of sanctification and Christian maturity. The Spirit of life stands in opposition to the law of sin and death which brings hopelessness, condemnation and death.
Has set you free in Christ Jesus: Holy Spirit is gift given to the believer by Christ Jesus.
Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
He sets the believer free by breaking the power and control of sin which our flesh/old man exercised over us. He removes its influence from our hearts and empowers us to say ‘no’ to sin.
The gospel produces this amazing freedom in the life of every believer. Breaking the power of our flesh/old man is the second amazing benefit which is ours exclusively through the gospel; the law could never provide this for us.
From the law of sin and death: The law of sin and death refers to our fallen nature, our flesh/old man; the controlling influence of sin which invariably leads to death and condemnation.
In this verse Paul once again shows us that the gospel produces life, while the law produces death.
Romans 8:3 – For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh…
GENERAL SUMMARY: The law could not justify us before God. This was not because of any fault within the law; it was due to the fact that our fallen nature prevented us from living according to its commands.
God did what the law could not do by sending his Son to earth as a human being to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. When Jesus died and rose again, he defeated/destroyed the power of sin forever.
DIGGING DEEPER: For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh, could not do: In this verse, the law means the commands of God as revealed to mankind. As we mentioned several times in our study of chapter seven, the law itself was perfect and divine.
Nevertheless, the law was rendered weak or ineffective in justifying us before God because of the strength of our fallen natures (flesh/old man).
Here is the problem: In order to justify us in the sight of God, the law requires perfection – perfect adherence to all of God’s commands, all of the time. Because of our flesh/old man, we are not capable of delivering that kind of perfection. In fact, it is a forgone conclusion that we will sin/break God’s laws. Because every single person since Adam has sinned, the law was rendered totally and universally weak in the realm of justification.
Galatians 3:21 - Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Furthermore, once we sin, the only power the law has is to condemn us and sentence us to eternal death; it has no way to make amends for our failure or to deliver us from the curse of death.
By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh: But thankfully, God has done the impossible; what the law could not do, he accomplished through his Son, Jesus:
Luke 18:26-27 - And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he [Jesus] said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Have you ever been caught off guard by a situation? Maybe something happened or someone reacted in a way that you didn’t see coming? When that happens, we are forced to react to a situation instead of controlling it. 
For example, let’s suppose you got all dressed up and went to a church for a wedding. But after a while it became apparent that the groom wasn’t going to show up. We could say that he reacted in a way no one expected. Before that happened, the bride and her family were in control of the situation – they had everything prepared and planned for their guests. But after the groom failed to show, they were forced to react to the new situation without any time to make a new plan.
Some people mistakenly believe this is what happened to God when sin came into the world. They think that God was caught off guard when Adam and Eve sinned and he was forced to abandon his plans (the law) and that sending Jesus to earth was a last-minute reaction to a situation he didn’t plan for. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth!
Remember, God is not bound by time. He exists outside of it. He sees the beginning from the end; NOTHING catches him by surprise. God gave mankind the law to fulfill his specific purposes – to reveal his holy commands for living, to identify sin, etc. But he knew from the beginning that we could not be justified by it. It was ALWAYS his plan to send Jesus into the world at the right time in order to fulfill the requirements of the law and become the only perfect, sinless sacrifice for our sin.
And so, at the exact time appointed by the Father, Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. His mother was human, but his father was God/Holy Spirit, which meant he was a man without the fallen nature of Adam (Matthew 1:20). He did not have the sinful propensities, desires or corruptions of our fallen nature. He and he alone was capable of fulfilling the role of the Redeemer of mankind. Only he could become the Mediator between God and man.
Hebrews 9:15 - And for this cause he [Jesus] is the mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant [the law], they who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
By living a perfect life according to the law, sacrificing himself on the cross and rising again on the third day, Jesus did what the law could not do – he purchased pardon for the sinner. His blood pays the debt we incur for sinning against God. Jesus broke the power of sin and made it possible for every man, woman, boy and girl to be reconciled to God. Praise the Lord!
As a side note, it should be pointed out that this scripture (verses 3&4) supports our understanding of the Trinity. God is actually a triune being consisting of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit who are all co-equal. Jesus was not created by God when he came to earth in the flesh; he was sent by God which clearly shows that he existed before.
Now let’s return to our text. What does Paul mean when he says Jesus was sent “in the likeness of sinful flesh?”
By all outward appearances, Jesus was no different than all other human beings. He started out as a baby and grew into manhood. He had two hands, two feet and one head. As a human, he had to eat and he had to sleep. He experienced emotions. Because he was fully human, everyone would expect him to also have the fallen nature of Adam, even though he did not (Hebrews 7:26). In this way, he can be described as having the likeness or close resemblance of a sinful person.
And for sin: Jesus came to earth to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin.
Acts 13:38-39 – Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man [Jesus] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he has made him [Jesus], who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
He condemned sin in the flesh: In this case, ‘condemned’ is used in the sense of destroying, overcoming or subduing.
As we have seen previously (Romans 7:18-20), the flesh is regarded as the source of sin. Until Jesus came to earth, the flesh was the scene of sin’s unlimited triumphs. Because the flesh is the seat of our transgressions, the atoning sacrifice was made in the same arena. Thus, the flesh of Jesus became the scene of sin’s defeat – by rising after his crucifixion, Jesus met sin on its own ground, destroyed its power and broke its hold on us. Through Christ we have obtained forgiveness; we have been justified in God’s sight.
Romans 8:4 - …in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
GENERAL SUMMARY: The reason God sent Jesus to be our Savior was so the demands of the law (obedience to God’s commands) could be fulfilled in the life of every person who places their faith in Christ and walks according to the leading of Holy Spirit.
DIGGING DEEPER: In order that the righteous requirement of the law: What are the righteous requirements of the law? In a general sense, we can say they are perfect obedience to the law in thought, word and deed. As we have discussed in prior posts, this is an impossibility for any human being – except Jesus. He has completely fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law:
Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Because of the union of Christ and the believer, our Savior is able to impute or credit this righteousness to us, while simultaneously discharging any punishment that was due to us (I Corinthians 1:30-31).
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he [God the Father] has made him [Jesus], who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh: God has provided a door to forgiveness through Christ. However, he will never force anyone to cross that threshold.
Those who choose to remain a willing slave to sin will forfeit the pardon offered through Christ. They will receive exactly what they desired and spent their life pursuing – the pleasures of sin which result in eternal death. 
Those who choose to accept God’s invitation are granted freedom from sin. They will receive exactly what they spent their lives pursuing – righteousness and holiness which result in eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
So we find that Christianity is not mere lip service. It requires a change of heart and mind which in turn result in outward actions/works which are pleasing to God. Christianity is not always a life of ease or comfort, but it is always full of joy, peace, satisfaction and hope. What could be better than that?
But according to the Spirit: If we are to stop walking in the paths of sin (after the flesh), and begin to walk the paths of righteousness like Jesus did, we are going to need some help!
Help has been provided for us through the gift of Holy Spirit. The same Spirit which dwelt within Christ also dwells within our hearts. He empowers us to walk in newness of life, loving and obeying God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. He also makes it possible for us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Thus, the design and purpose of the law is fulfilled in us through the strength of Holy Spirit provided through Christ Jesus. This stands in opposition to the weakness of the law through our flesh, which cannot produce these results.
Romans 8:5 – 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.
GENERAL SUMMARY: The mind is the rudder of life; it determines what direction we take. Those who choose to serve their flesh/old man have their minds fully devoted to sin. Those who choose to follow their spirit/new man have their minds fully devoted to righteousness and holiness through the work of Holy Spirit.
DIGGING DEEPER: For those who live according to the flesh: This phrase describes unbelievers or people who are still under the control of their corrupt and sinful flesh/old man.
Set their minds on the things of the flesh: Your mind is the control center of your life. It determines your motives and your intentions. With it, you form your plans and make your day-to-day decisions. To set you mind on something is to choose that thing and to purposefully pursue it on a constant basis.
For example, a person might think about their health, assess their ability and make plans to start an exercise regimen. Once their mind is set on exercise, it will impel them to follow the new exercise plan. They will watch exercise videos, read exercise related posts and talk about exercise with other people. The bottom line is that because their mind is set on exercise, they will consistently pursue it in different ways.
In the same way, the person who sets their mind on the flesh has chosen to willingly serve their flesh/old man. Their mind and thoughts are centered on all the different ways they can satisfy their lusts. They consistently and eagerly pursue every opportunity to engage in the sin they desire. This is a natural result of choosing to live according to the flesh.
John 3:6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
But those who live according to the Spirit: This phrase refers to believers or Christians. When a person chooses to trust in Christ as Savior, their flesh/old man is no longer the dominating force in their lives, because Christ broke the power of sin.
Now they are ruled by their spirit/new man. They are willing and eagerly devoted to living lives of holiness and righteousness under the direction of Holy Spirit. Grace is the governing principle in their lives.
Set their minds on the things of the Spirit: Believers in Christ have set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Their minds guide them in the relentless pursuit of holiness, righteousness and obedience to all that God commands.
Romans 8:6 – For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
GENERAL SUMMARY: In the prior verse, Paul shows that there are two groups of people – carnal and spiritual. Now he reveals the final outcome of each group.
Those who fix their minds on sin (flesh/old man) will eventually experience spiritual death. Those who fix their minds on the Spirit (spirit/new man) will reap peace now and eternal life in the next age. 
DIGGING DEEPER: To set the mind: Again, this means to fix your thoughts in a certain direction; to use your mind to pursue a specific outcome or course of action in your thoughts, words and deeds. It includes your reason, your understanding and your affections.
On the flesh is death: If your mind is fixed on your flesh/old man, you will pursue sin. If you willingly choose to make yourself a slave of sin, you will experience the only possible outcome – eternal spiritual death.
In the original Greek, the meaning is not just that the flesh will lead you to death, but that to follow this path is death itself; there is woe and condemnation in the very act of being supremely devoted to sin/corrupt passions. That path will, with 100% certainty, result in spiritual death in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15, 21:8).
But to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace: Those who fix their minds on the Spirit of God and strive to live by their spirit/new man will pursue the things of God.
When you are spiritually minded, you lay a foundation of peace in your life - peace with God, peace with your conscience, and peace with the world around you. You also experience the abundant life that Jesus provides for his children (John 10).
Let me offer you some encouragement:
In today’s post, we noted that Jesus answered the demands of the law for us. He did this because it was impossible for us to do it.
However, it is important for us to understand that he will NOT fulfill the demands of the gospel for us. We must do this ourselves.
Now don’t panic – we don’t have to do this our own power. That would be just as impossible as keeping the demands of the law! Instead, we are to rely on Holy Spirit to empower and aid us in this process.
With his help, we can:
- Renew our minds with the word of God (Romans 12:2).
- We can forgive, as we are forgiven (Luke 17:3-4).
- We can put on the armor of God and successfully wield the sword of the spirit and the shield of faith (Galatians 6).
- We can exercise faith that moves mountains (Matthew 21:21).
- We can circumcise our hearts (Romans 2:28-29).
- We can resist the devil and watch him flee (James 4:7).
- We can spread the gospel message to the lost (Mark 16:15).
- We can forcefully advance the kingdom of heaven on earth (Matthew 11:12).
Jesus already won the battle, but we must stand up and claim victory in our own lives; we must do the work ourselves, by the power of the Spirit. I strongly encourage you to fix your mind on the things of Christ right now, and begin to do all that he has commanded!
Let me offer you some relief and some strength:
Have you ever noticed that some people try to spiritually ‘sit on the fence?’ In other words, they claim they want to live Christian lives, and they may even attend church once in a while, give some money to charity, or say a quick prayer when they eat. But they also consistently engage in their sinful urges.
They are trying to set their minds on two opposing things - they want to engage in the sins of this world, but still do enough to ‘earn’ a place in heaven. I can’t imagine how confusing and exhausting that must be! Not only that, it is a lost cause.
If this describes you, let me just set the record straight – there is no spiritual fence; there is no middle ground. You are either a Christian or a non-Christian, a saint or a sinner, a person of the spirit or a person of the flesh. Your name is either written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, or it isn’t.
So today, take the advice of Joshua, son of Nun. Stop messing around and decide who you are and what you want to pursue:
Joshua 24:14-15 - Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, and in Egypt; and serve you the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.