1 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.
Chapter eight begins a new emphasis in the book of Romans. This chapter puts great emphasis on the Spirit of God; He is mentioned 19 times in the chapter. There were only two previous mentions of Him in Romans (1:4; 5:5). Life in the Spirit enables the believer to live at a much higher plane on a new dimension.
Chapter eight is an answer to the problem of the sin capacity shown in chapter seven. At the end of chapter seven Paul asked, “Who will deliver me from the body of this death [the sin capacity]?” Then he answered his own question: “through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This chapter picks up this thought.
God fulfills His promises through Jesus Christ; He liberates His people and fulfills the law in Himself. The solution to the sin capacity problem rests in the work of Christ on the cross and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus makes available the basis for freedom, whereas the Holy Spirit provides the personal power to conquer the sin issue.
Ro 7:6, But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
The character of our life in Christ has the dynamic of the indwelling Spirit of God in every believer. This type of life is radically different from life under the law. Since Jesus met all the demands of the law, there is a new freedom to live before God.
It is interesting that there is no command in chapter eight. The issue is life in the Spirit and what He does, not what man does.
Chapter eight begins with “no condemnation,” deals with no defeat, and ends with “no separation.” This chapter has much to say about the believer’s assurance of salvation.
1 There is therefore
The “therefore” here draws an inference from chapter seven. Paul had asked, “Who will deliver me from the body of this death?” (the sin capacity) and then answered his own question by saying, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” In turn, this is also an inference from chapters five through seven, which assert the wonderful grace of Jesus. This verse shows how that is true. Jesus delivered the believer from the power of the sin capacity by His death on the cross.
now
The “now” signals the new status Christians have “in Christ.” Believers have the position of “no condemnation” because they operate under the auspices of a new federal head—Jesus, who died for their sins and gives them eternal life. Had they remained under the law, they would have been condemned.
It is clear to most people that God will not condemn those who come to believe in what Christ did on the cross. Few, however, know that there is no condemnation for them “now.” Right at this very moment, while we are alive on earth, God does not condemn us and never will condemn us.
Ro 7:6, But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Since the Christian has freedom from sin and has been freed from death, we have the new law—the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The Mosaic Law points out our sin, whereas the new law frees us from both sin and death.
PRINCIPLE:
Every believer has the eternal status of “no condemnation” before God.
APPLICATION:
Christians begin eternal life at the point of their salvation.
Jn 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has [Greek—has and holds] everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
The Greek indicates in this verse by the word “has” that the Christian presently has eternal life (present, active, indicative). It also indicates that it is a reality that we have eternal life. The Greek words for “has passed” indicate that we passed from eternal death to eternal life at the point of our salvation. It is a fact of a person who is a Christian.
Another reason we have eternal life presently in the life of the believer is that we have the indwelling Holy Spirit living inside us.
Eph 1:13-14, In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Dr. Grant,
I would like to thank you for the good work you are doing. You are really helping us to know more about the word of God.
Some of the chapters in the Bible are hard to understand unless by the help of other people like you.
May the heavenly Father bless you abundantly. God be with you!
Madalitso, thanks, I am blessed by your comment.
Dr. Grant i have really been blessed. Your commentary is quite a revelation.I have never come across such a wonderful commentary
I am always elated to stumble upon Christian sites that provides free resources to help in deep bible study. Personally such sites including this has helped me and is helping me in my understanding of the Bible as if I ever went to seminary. Thank you so much and though I am unable to donate financially now,I will keep you in my prayers. May the good Lord bless and keep this ministry. Amen.
Thank you Alex and Abigail. God has provided so that we can offer 9,000 pages free by His grace provision.
These works worth a lot of money, but you are dishing it out for free in a time that the Landmarks in the Bible is about to be covered with sand. I use this for research and devotional. Thanks a lot for making it possible to have something to lay our hands on for some of us that are hungry and want to know more. Thank you and God bless you, I’m really blessed.
Grant:
Could the “condemnation” refer to what Paul was experiencing in chp. 7
–“oh wretched man that I am”–because it seems he was “trying” to live the Christian life by self-effort [law?] rather than the power of the Spirit, thus causing the condemnation of guilt [but not from God] because of failure?
His struggles in chp. 7 make no mention of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit but many times uses the word “I.”
Some say “for those who walk after the Spirit…..”etc. contradicts the eternal security
interpretation of “condemnation” and so that part of verse doesn’t belong here but only in v.4, so they remove it. The NASB does that. Glad you don’t.
I got the “idea” of this from reading The Normal Christian Life” by Watchman Nee.
Thanks for this site. Very helpful and easy to follow. God Bless.
George, the word “therefore” is not the usual term for an inference but the word ἄρα; this term is a marker of result as an inference from what has preceded (frequently used in questions and in the result clause of conditional sentences)—‘so, then, consequently, as a result.’ οὐδὲν ἄρα νῦν κατάκριμα ‘so, then, there is now no condemnation’ Ro 8:1. As I mention above, it could refer to chapter 7 or even the entire section running from chapter 5 through 7. Thus, it definitely can refer and probably does refer to chapter 7 since it is the closest reference to the conclusion.
The issue to which you refer about “condemnation” is not primarily an interpretation problem but a textual. The majority text keeps the term whereas the critical text (older but fewer texts) does not include it. NASB rests on the critical text. In either case, neither text choice supports losing salvation as you can see by the interpretation above and especially following–just click on the next study or chose from the right column.
Thanks for your help I’m enjoying grasping a better understanding of the scriptures.
Robert
Robert, thank you for your words of encouragement.