The Essentials Of Romans 8 (Part 1)

"[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 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: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Rom. 8:1-4

As we begin a look at the essential points of the eighth chapter of the book of Romans, the first thing we should take note of is the conditional statement in the first verse.

"[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

People have often been unsure if there is truth to the doctrine of "once saved-always saved." Well, here is the boldfaced truth. There is no condemnation. That pretty much sums it up. However, there is a condition to this statement. In the King James Version of the Bible, there is a comma that separates the condition from that first statement. This might make one believe that the second part is a requirement that must be met in order for the first part to apply. The second statement says:

"who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

However, in the Greek, there doesn't appear to be a separation. It appears that the second part isn't so much a requirement to be fulfilled so much as an evidence to be seen. When viewed that way, we might well find the statement to mean (as paraphrased):

"From now on, there is no condemnation for those that are joined to Jesus Christ which don't occupy themselves with the ways of the flesh but instead occupy themselves with the ways of the Holy Spirit."

Instead of saying that you must do the action of occupying yourselves with the Spirit in order to be freed from condemnation, it says because you are free from condemnation you will show this freedom by your actions of occupying yourselves with the ways of the Holy Spirit.

One way makes it a required work in order to obtain a sure salvation. The other shows that the work is done and then you bear the fruit from the work. The second way gives all the glory back to God, whereas the first tries to steal the glory back to the person doing the work.

In the second verse, we are shown that there are two basic structures in play.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

There is the law that rules by the presence of sin, and it produces death. Then, there is the law of the Spirit, which produces life eternal. That law exists only in Jesus Christ. Of the two laws, we are taught that the law of the Spirit is the more powerful, in that it can free a person from being subject to the law of sin.

This verse confirms two statements from elsewhere in the Bible upon which much of our doctrine is based. First, it confirms Romans 6:23....

"For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Here we see that sin produces death, and that eternal life (as a gift from God) is available through Jesus.

Secondly, it harmonizes perfectly with John 14:6, which states:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

This refines the fact that the gift of life is only available through Jesus.

The third verse starts to show us why we need Jesus.

"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:"

Let's look at the first part of that statement.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh"

Here we see the problem. The law of sin would have been sufficient if not for the fact that it was a law that was effective through the flesh. If there had been one or more humans that could have fulfilled the requirements of the law by their own efforts, then there would have been no need for the sacrifice of Jesus. But, because our flesh is naturally yearning to follow it's own lusts, it is impossible for all humans (except Jesus Himself) to achieve that goal. So, without hope of overcoming the flesh, and with our spirit being dead (See John 3:5-7), man was by default enslaved to the law of sin.

"God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh"

As we continue on, we see where God enacts His plan to build a bridge between Himself and fallen man. God sends Jesus to earth as a man (which God attests to in Matt. 3:17). But, in the Greek an interesting word is used here. Where we see likeness, the original word is "ομοιωματι" (homoioma). This might be better understood as "resemblence to" or "similar to." Why do I mention this? Because, it reinforces that, while Jesus was in all ways human, He was also still part of the Trinity. Jesus was all man, but He never ceased to be all God's Son. This is a nice point against those that would try to say that Jesus was just a prophet or just a wise man. He was, is, and will evermore be God ("I and [my] Father are one." John 10:30)

"and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"

We are taught elsewhere in the Scriptures that without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sin. In order to be a perfect sacrifice, there were two requirements: the sacrifice would have to be human and it would have to be sinless. If animal sacrifices could have earned forgiveness of sins, there would have been no need for Jesus. If Jesus had been in any way blemished by sin, His blood would have been of zero value.

Therefore, this verse confirms that Jesus was sinless ("For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin." Heb. 4:15) and that He was a sacrifice for us ("The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29)

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The law of sin could have led to righteousness, but our sinful nature (as expressed in our flesh) made it impossible. It became a law unto death. But, by the life of Jesus the law was fulfilled ("Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matt. 5:17) And by His death on the cross, He made that righteousness available to His people ("For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Rom. 10:4)

Again, Paul uses the phrase:

"who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

And again, this makes sense when we see how it is used as a description of those of us that have had the righteousness of law (as fulfilled by Jesus) imparted to us.

The last thing to notice here is that, by using this exact same phrase again, Paul has tied the knot, so to speak. There are two descriptions that are attached to the phrase "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." In verse one, it is "them which are in Christ Jesus." In verse four it is "the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." So, we can combine the two and see "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us which are in Jesus Christ." A final, perfect statement of the position of the believer. The righteousness is in the people that are in Jesus.

Tomorrow we'll continue with our study into the 8th Chapter of The Book of Romans.

Grace and Peace....