Life in the Spirit

A Study of The Book of Romans

By Pastor Randy Johnson

Lesson 49 Chapter 8:1 – 4

1. Verse 1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
1. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” That is to then who believe that the blood of Christ cleanses all sin. All others regardless what they believe are condemned already.

a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – He who knew no sin became sin for us by taking our sin and nailing it to the cross.

b. John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” – Nothing about works, baptism, or etc. just faith.

c. John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

d. Once God has saved us it is impossible to loose us because that would mean God changed and God cannot change.

2. “…who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

a. Not because of the walk but because of the reason we walk in the Spirit.

b.

2. Verse 2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
1. “For the law of the Spirit…” The word “law” here means something that governs something – so here our life is governed by the Holy Spirit, this is verse 1 ended “…who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Because everyone saved should have their life governed by the Holy Spirit.
2. “…the Spirit of life…” Means He (the Holy Spirit) is the giver of life. He is also the giver of fruits in our life like meekness, love, hope, and etc.

a. Let us not forget Romans 3:11 “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” This is biblical proof man will never on their own choose Christ so the Holy Spirit causes that repentance by changing our will.

b. Isaiah 11:2 “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;”

3. “…the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” The giver of life (the Holy Spirit) only gives it in Christ Jesus; there is no life any other way.

a. Setting us free from the rule of sin and death.

b. John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

3. Verse 3 “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”
1. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh…” – Here biblical proof the law does not save. The law condemns is therefore it cannot save is because it can not both condemn and justify.

a. The only way to live by the law is not to break the law which is impossible since we were made sinners in Adam before we were born.

b. The law is not weak, but we in the flesh are weak, the law showed us our weakness. However the law is weak in that it cannot save, it is a law it condemns.

c. The law is simply a law it is not a Saviour.

2. “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…”

a. Not in sinful flesh but in the likeness of sinful flesh. Christ knew no sin.

b. Christ was flesh but without a sinful nature. This does not belittle His human nature at all.

c. 1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

3. “…and for sin…” – This is why God sent His Son, to die for our sin. God could not pardon sin by the law because it was weak but Christ Jesus was not weak.
4. “…condemned sin in the flesh:” – Jesus Christ death condemned sin in the flesh.

a. Sin must be paid for. God does not overlook sin He pardons sin when the proper price has been paid, for the condemned lost that will be eternal hell, but for us who are saved it was the death of Jesus Christ.

b. 2 Peter 2:6 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;” That God punishes sin.

4. Verse 4 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
1. “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us…” not that we could ever fulfill it on our own, but we have in Christ because by His blood we are pardoned from all sin as though we never broke the law.
2. Who walk after the spirit, not in sinful lust but in the new life given by the Spirit.