Romans 8:1-8: a reflection

1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. 8Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.

Paul announces one of the greatest truths of the gospel: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For those who belong to Christ, the verdict of condemnation that hangs over sin has been lifted; they stand uncondemned before God. What the law could not do, weakened as it was by our sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son, condemning sin in Christ, so that those in him are freed from condemnation and set free to live by the Spirit.

Notice the sweeping declaration: now no condemnation. Not less condemnation, or condemnation deferred, but none at all, for those who are in Christ. The weight of guilt, the sentence that our sin deserves, has been lifted from those who belong to him, because Christ has borne it. This is not because we have earned it, or because our sin was small, but because God did in Christ what the law could never do: dealt with our sin fully, so that we stand uncondemned.

That truth is meant to free us. Many believers live under a low, persistent sense of condemnation, feeling that God is still holding their sins against them, still ready to condemn. But Paul says plainly: for those in Christ, there is now no condemnation. If you are in Christ, the verdict over you is not condemnation but acceptance; your sins have been dealt with, borne by Christ, and you stand uncondemned before God. Do not live under a weight Christ has lifted. Receive the freedom of no condemnation, and let it free you to set your mind on the Spirit, and to live in the life and peace that come from being uncondemned in Christ. There is now no condemnation for those who are his; live as one set free.

Lord, Paul announces the great truth that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; what the law could not do, you did by sending your Son, so that those in him stand uncondemned. Free me with that truth. I can live under a low, persistent sense of condemnation, feeling that you are still holding my sins against me, still ready to condemn. But you say plainly: for those in Christ, there is now no condemnation, not less, not deferred, but none at all. If I am in Christ, the verdict over me is not condemnation but acceptance; my sins have been dealt with, borne by Christ, and I stand uncondemned before you. Help me not to live under a weight Christ has lifted. Let me receive the freedom of no condemnation, and let it free me to set my mind on the Spirit, and to live in the life and peace that come from being uncondemned in Christ. Thank you that I am not condemned; help me live as one set free.