Life in the Spirit

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Power for sanctification

The question naturally arises, Must a believer spend his whole life on earth frustrated by ongoing defeats to indwelling sin? (Rom. 7:21-25) Is there no power provided to achieve victory? The answer to the first question is no and to the second, yes. In Rom. 8:1-39, Paul described the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God who is the source of divine power for sanctification and the secret for spiritual victory in daily living. But first Paul reminded his readers that therefore — since deliverance is “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 7:25) — no condemnation (katakrima, “punishment”) awaits those who are in Christ Jesus, as a result of their faith and identification with Him (cf. Rom. 6:13; John 5:24). So many Christians want to stop with the statement (There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.) This statement is true only, if the last part of this statement is kept. Salvation is a daily walk. There is no condemnation in righteousness. If we walk in righteousness, not after the flesh but after the Spirit of God there is no condemnation. To preach that Christians are above condemnation when they are living like the world is in error. If you are walking in the Spirit of God, there is nothing to condemn you for.

The word condemnation is used only three times in the New Testament and only in the book of Romans. “Condemnation” refers to a verdict of guilty and the penalty that verdict demands. No sin a true believer commits whether past, present or future can be held against him, since the penalty was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer.

They are justified, declared righteous, and therefore stand in His grace (Rom. 5:2) and not under His wrath (Rom. 1:18), and possess eternal life (Rom. 5:17-18, 5:21). Christ is the sphere of safety for all who are identified with Him by faith. In the better Greek manuscripts, Rom. 8:1 ends here. The words “who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit” were probably transcribed from Rom. 8:4.

There is therefore...

ἄρα

ara

ar'-ah

Probably from to lift (through the idea of drawing a conclusion); a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows): - haply, (what) manner (of man), no doubt, perhaps, so be, then, therefore, truly, wherefore. Often used in connection with other particles, especially and besides or certainly (after) or whether (before).

now...

νῦν

nun

noon

A primary particle of present time; “now” (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate: - henceforth, + hereafter, of late, soon, present, this (time).

no...

οὐδείς

oudeis

oo-dice'

Including the feminine οὐδεμία oudemia

oo-dem-ee'-ah and the neuter οὐδέν ouden oo-den'

From not however and one:; not even one (man, woman or thing), that is, none, nobody, nothing: - any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never (man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing), nought.

This proves that the experience of Rom. 7:7-24 was not Paul’s at the time of the writing of Romans, for several reasons:

1. Paul had no condemnation (Rom. 8:1).

2. Paul was free from the law of sin (Rom. 8:2).

3. Paul was free from eternal death (Rom. 8:2).

4. Paul’s sin condemned in his flesh (Rom. 8:3).

5. Paul was fulfilled righteousness (Rom. 8:4).

6. Paul had life and peace (Rom. 8:6).

7. Paul was Spirit-filled (Rom. 8:9-11).

8. Paul’s body was dead to sin (Rom. 8:10).

9. Paul’s flesh was crucified (Rom. 8:12-13).

10. Paul was walking in the Spirit and not after the flesh (Rom. 8:1-4; Gal. 5:16-26).

condemnation...

κατάκριμα

katakrima

kat-ak'-ree-mah

From to judge against; an adverse sentence (the verdict): - condemnation.

to them...

ὁ, ἡ, τό

ho hē to

ho, hay, to

The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): - the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

which are in...

ἐν

en

en

A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between to or into and from, out); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.: - about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-) by (+ all means), for (. . . sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-) in (-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-) on, [open-] ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, [speedi-] ly, X that, X there (-in, -on), through (-out), (un-) to(-ward), under, when, where (-with), while, with (-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.

Thirty-four Blessings in Christ

1. Redemption (Rom. 3:24; 1Cor. 1:30)

2. Freedom from condemnation (Rom. 8:1)

3. Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2)

4. Love of God (Rom. 8:39; 1Tim. 1:14)

5. Truth (Rom. 9:1)

6. Unity (Rom. 12:15; Gal. 3:28)

7. Faith (Acts 24:24; 1Tim. 3:13)

8. Sanctification (1Cor. 1:2, 1:30)

9. Wisdom (1Cor. 1:30; 4:10)

10. Righteousness (1Cor. 1:30)

11. Begetting (1Cor. 4:15)

12. Hope (1Cor. 15:19)

13. Security in death (1Cor. 15:18)

14. Resurrection (1Cor. 15:1-58; 1Th. 4:1-18)

15. Joy (1Cor. 15:31)

16. Establishment in God (2Cor. 1:21)

17. Triumph (2Cor. 2:14)

18. UN-corrupt Word (2Cor. 2:17)

19. Law abolished (2Cor. 3:6-15)

20. New creation (2Cor. 5:17-18)

21. Simplicity (2Cor. 11:3)

22. Liberty (Gal. 2:4)

23. All spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3)

24. Power (Eph. 1:20)

25. Heavenly places (Eph. 2:6)

26. Nearness to God (Eph. 2:13)

27. Eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11)

28. Self-humbling (Php. 3:14)

29. High calling (Php. 3:14)

30. Perfection (Col. 1:28)

31. Eternal life (2Tim. 1:11)

32. Grace (2Tim. 2:1)

33. Salvation (2Tim. 2:10)

34. Preservation (Jude 1:1)

Christ...

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

From to smear or rub with oil; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

Jesus,...

Ἰησοῦς

Iēsous

ee-ay-sooce'

Of Hebrew origin [Jehovah-saved]; Jesus (that is, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites: - Jesus.

who walk...

περιπατέω

peripateō

per-ee-pat-eh'-o

From through and to trample; to tread all around, that is, walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary): - go, be occupied with, walk (about).

not...

μή

mē

may

A primary particle of qualified negation (whereas no or not expresses an absolute denial); (adverbially) not, (conjugationally) lest; also (as interrogitive implying a negative answer [whereas no or not expects an affirmative one]); whether: - any, but, (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, [can-] not, nothing, that not, un [-taken], without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.

after...

κατά

kata

kat-ah'

A primary particle; (preposition) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case [genitive, dative or accusative] with which it is joined): - about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to, touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, [charita-] bly, concerning, + covered, [dai-] ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from . . . to, godly, in (-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), . . . by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-) on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through (-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-) to (-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where (-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution or intensity.

the flesh,...

σάρξ

sarx

sarx

Probably from the base of to brush off; flesh (as stripped of the skin), that is, (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such): - carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]).

but...

ἀλλά

alla

al-lah'

Neuter plural of else; properly other things, that is, (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations): - and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.

after... see above.

the Spirit...

πνεῦμα

pneuma

pnyoo'-mah

From to breathe hard; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.