In Romans 8, we are shown how to live free from condemnation. It demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life and how we are led into victory in Christ. People who truly believe and put their complete trust and faith in Christ Jesus are not condemned. God has accomplished an amazing victory for believers through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His work has cancelled the handwriting of the law that was against us and has given us His victory, life and freedom. It is important for us to understand how we came to this condition and what happened as a result of sin. When Adam and Eve were created, there was no sin, condemnation, judgment, or death. They lived in the presence of God in innocence and complete freedom from condemnation. At that time, there was no sickness, suffering, or death. When Eve and Adam chose to believe the serpent (Satan) rather than God, immediate judgment, condemnation and death entered. Their disobedience to God’s simple law brought about the conditions that we all contend with. The weakness of the flesh is an inherited characteristic and nature of all mankind.
Romans 8:1-2 NKJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged as a sinner, but delivered from the condemnation of death and hell through Him. His victory has brought us into victory. His life has brought us into life. His standing with the Father has given us access and confidence before the Father. We are not judged to be unrighteous, but are counted to be righteous through Christ.
Romans 8:3-4 NIV84 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is declaring the great victory we have gained through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Immediately after assigning our new life to Jesus Christ our Lord, the text addresses freedom from condemnation.
What does it mean to live without condemnation? There are two areas in us where condemnation must be dealt with.
First, we need freedom from condemnation that comes to everyone who breaks the Law of God.
All sinners are under the condemnation and penalty ascribed by the Law. We have learned that everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God. By the blood of Jesus Christ, the redeemed have the witness of the Holy Spirit that they are free from condemnation. When sin reigns in our lives, we are condemned. When Jesus Christ reigns, we are freed from condemnation in the Father’s presence.
Those “in Christ” are freed from condemnation.
New life in Christ has made us free from the Law of sin and death. Christ has become for us righteousness and peace. The condemnation and penalty of sins have been paid for in Christ’s death.
Second, we must be free from inward condemnation.
Inner condemnation is the most difficult for each of us to gain freedom from. We are completely dependent on the witness of the Holy Spirit in this area. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our own spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:16). The Holy Spirit is the seal and surety of our salvation and without His witness we remain condemned. This is the area where many fail and live in defeat. Due to the sins of their past, they live with the sense of inward condemnation before God. We must realize and acknowledge the power of the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all of our sins. The Holy Spirit perfectly knows what the blood of Jesus has accomplished in our lives. The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son cleanses us from all sin. When we accept this by faith, we are made free to live without condemnation.
Romans 8:1 NIV Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Romans 8:6 NIV The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
We will experience victory and a clear conscience when we learn to walk in the Spirit.
When we have the mind of the Spirit, we will have peace in our hearts. It is impossible to live condemned with peace in the heart. Condemnation is gone if the peace of God rules our heart and mind.
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NIV84 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The testimony of the Holy Spirit is, “We have been made overcomers through Christ.” Within the kingdom of Christ we enjoy a life of victory, peace, and joy without condemnation. It is impossible to dwell in the victory wherein Christ makes us free and live in condemnation. Jesus Christ makes us free and right with God.
Galatians 2:16 NLT Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
All of our confidence rests in Jesus. He is our peace, reconciliation and righteousness.
Romans 8:8 NLT That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
To live in peace without condemnation, we must put all of our trust and faith in Christ because the flesh is too weak to fulfill the Law of God. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. To live in this life of victory, we must live in the strength and victory of Jesus Christ.
How can we live like this?
Listen to Romans 8:2 in the New Living Translation.
Romans 8:2 NLT And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Why is there no more condemnation?
We are living covered by the finished work of Christ. Since you have been given new life in Christ, the Holy Spirit has freed you from the power of sin and death. As long as we remain in Christ, we are freed from the old life of condemnation and the power of sin.
As a result of the domain of the Law of God, we know sin.
The Law defined sin and showed us that we are exceedingly sinful. Under the Law, we are all sinners, fall short of the glory of God, and are thus condemned.
The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has preempted and supplanted the old law.
The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made it possible for us to live without condemnation. We know that we have been redeemed, forgiven, cleansed, and accepted in Christ. We reckon or conclude that our sin and condemnation was laid upon Christ and that we have been released. We have presented ourselves to God and have acknowledged His Lordship over our lives. Now the Holy Spirit is giving this strong testimony to our innermost being that we are made right with God and have been made His children.
How does the Law of the Spirit of Life suspend and supplant our condemnation?
God’s Law has infallibly and perfectly established the rule and principle of sin and righteousness. The Law that has been established and sealed in heaven is eternal and has not and cannot changed. It is permanently connected to the righteousness of the Holy and Righteous God.
In Christ Jesus, the case that was against us has been suspended and closed.
We were totally sinful and unable to satisfy God’s requirements of righteousness.
That is when Jesus Christ entered and lifted us up from our sin and brought us unto Himself.
Jesus Christ intervened to deliver us. We could not pay our debt or fulfill the Law, therefore we were condemned. Christ has brought relief.
How can the Law be annulled?
Something must step in that interrupts the effect of the Law.
Consider the law of gravity. If you drop an apple, it will fall to the ground. Every time you drop the apple, the law takes hold and enforces its power. How can we interrupt the effect of the Law? Something must step in to keep the law from having effect. If I hold the apple in my hand, I can keep it from falling to the ground.
The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the Law of sin and death.
The law of sin and death is still there. The only reason we have life and victory is Christ Jesus. He has interrupted and interfered with the power of sin and death and we are kept by the power of God.
How can we enjoy the freedom from the constricting and controlling power of the Law of sin and death?
Have you ever tried to drive your vehicle without gas? You can get in the car and put the key in the ignition switch. You can hold on to the steering wheel. Without gas you cannot go. You have the will power to go. You have demonstrated that you want to go. You just don’t have the power to do it. Have you ever pushed your car to the gas station? Someone sat at the wheel and you pushed. You forced the vehicle to go.
We can exert great effort to live the life of victory without condemnation.
When we do that, it is obvious that something is missing. We don’t have to force ourselves to speak our native language. We don’t have to exert will-power. We do it naturally.
When does the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus take effect?
First, life in Christ Jesus takes effect the moment we trust Jesus.
Trust or faith is the critical issue. As long as we trust our own labors, we are not fully trusting Christ. Trusting Christ does not excuse bad behavior, but it gives us the ability to do good. When we trust Christ, we live, move, and have our being in Him. His victory and life becomes our victory and life.
Galatians 2:20 NIV84 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I live in my body by faith in the Son of God.
Accept the word “live” with all of its connotations. “I live” in my body and Christ “lives in me.” The life I now live is by faith in Jesus Christ.
When does the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus take effect?
First, life in Christ Jesus takes effect the moment we trust Jesus.
Second, life in Christ takes effect as we walk after the Spirit.
Romans 8:3-4 NIV84 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
What does it mean to walk according to the Spirit?
For us to walk according to the Spirit, God must intervene.
God intervened by sending His Son in the flesh and then He sent the Holy Spirit to live within us. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to live this new life. The “walk” is the “work” of the Holy Spirit. When we try to go it on our own, we are working.
The Apostle Paul gave us a small view into the manner in which he “walked according to the Spirit.”
Colossians 1:29 NIV84 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
The Holy Spirit mightily works in us, and we work. Our effort may at times feel like we are struggling, but our labor is empowered with the Lord’s superhuman energy. “He powerfully works within me.” The energy and power of Christ’s victory and position is worked in us by the Holy Spirit who works in us.
We realize the implications of the Spirit’s work as we live in submission to Him.
We must develop ears to hear the Spirit and become attentive and subject to Him. We cannot be independent of the Spirit and walk after the Spirit.
Romans 8:14 NKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
What the Father has planned for us, Jesus Christ the Son of God has accomplished for us, and the Holy Spirit transmits and works out in us.
