Romans 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. 2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death. 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:
4 That the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do
mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of
the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in
the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now
if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
This is an amazing chapter in the Bible that should give comfort
to every Christian who reads it.
If you are in Christ, if you have received Him as your Saviour,
then you are not condemned, and there is no condemnation in you. It is not
literally saying there is no condemnation in you as long as you are a good boy
or girl. It is saying that those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned but
eternally saved. Those who are in Christ Jesus walk after the Spirit. It also
doesn’t say that the Christian is not accused or that the Christian has done
nothing worthy of condemnation. It doesn’t say there is no affliction, no
suffering, no chastening, or no tribulation for the Christian.
The Law could not accomplish this. It was wholly unable to do
this. We can be justified and sanctified in Christ and not be held guilty for
our sin by virtue of Christ’s sacrifice. Paul explains here clearly why those
who have not received the Spirit of God and of Christ, the Holy Spirit, named
the Holy Ghost elsewhere, cannot please God because they are in their flesh,
judged and tainted by a sin nature. If the Spirit of God dwells in a person
they do please God. Here is evidence that a person has that Spirit abiding in
him or her. First, the promise, then the evidence.
John 14:23 Jesus answered
and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will
love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Galatians 5:22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law.
Ask yourself if you reveal that fruit in your behavior and
thoughts or if you are just a self-righteous phony who loves to feel superior.
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