Romans 8:1-8

                                                                     Romans 8:1-8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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, 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. 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

God is at work to set us free from the condemnation and the control of sin in our lives.  He has accomplished that work through the death and resurrection of Christ.  This is both a positional freedom and a practical freedom.  We are forgiven but we are also able to live lives that are marked by the Spirit of God and is pleasing to the Father.  The Trinity is at work to set us free from sin.

 

THE SON FREES US FROM CONDEMNATION: Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ are completely free from the condemnation of sin.  Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly while living on this earth as a man.  He took on flesh and did not sin at all.  He was condemned by God on the cross where He took on the sins of the world, suffered and died in our place.  Since all our sin has been condemned in Christ, the righteous requirements of the law have been fulfilled.  Because we are all legally condemned in Adam, it is only right that we all be legally justified in Christ.  The only requirement that is made of us is that we do not trust in our own flesh for salvation, that we trust in the provision Christ has made for us and walk in the power of His Spirit and not trust in our own works.

 

THE SPIRIT FILLS US WITH LIFE AND PEACE: Paul demonstrates that those who have their mind set on the flesh will constantly walk in sin that leads to death.  We cannot live in a way that satisfies God in the strength of our own flesh.  Only as we rest in the work that Christ has accomplished on our behalf can we walk in the Spirit and experience true life that is filled with peace.  We are at peace with God because His wrath poured out on Christ on the cross.  We have the peace of God because we know our sins are forgiven and we need not fear condemnation.  In Christ we have true life that is eternal.  Our lives on earth have meaning and our home in heaven is where our lives in Christ will truly be experienced to the fullest.

 

THE FATHER FINDS US TO BE PLEASING TO HIM: The Father is pleased by the Son and the sacrifice that He made for us.  There is no way that we could live a life that is pleasing to God in the power of our flesh.  However, when we recognize our sin and our failure before Him and trust in His provision for us through the sacrifice of His Son; He is pleased with us.  His pleasure in us is tied to His pleasure in Jesus.  Those who reject Jesus as their Savior are not pleasing to Him.  They cannot please Him.  Our only hope is found in Jesus.  He is the source of our life and our standing before the Father.  He is pleased by those who are trusting in Christ.

 

APPLICATION: Recognize the freedom we have from condemnation in the work of Christ on the cross.  Do not be deceived into thinking that we can be justified by the works of our own flesh.  Have our minds set on the Spirit of Christ who lives in us and what Christ has accomplished for us.  Live in peace with full confidence of eternal life in Christ.  Enjoy the truth that we are pleasing to God because of what Jesus has done for us.  Be thankful and faithful to share this truth.

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