³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

on account of sin:

We can phrase “on account of sin” literally concerning our sin. Jesus took on humanity for the purpose of dealing with our sin as a substitutionary sacrifice.

He condemned sin in the flesh [both the body and human nature of Jesus],

Jesus condemned the issue of sin by His death on the cross. The word “condemned” means that He passed judicial sentence on the sin issue regarding men to free them from having to deal with the sin issue before God. The Father assumed the position of punishing sin in the death of Christ. This absolved all people of the sin issue. The issue now is to accept the one who paid for their sin. The integrity of the Father could not allow for sin to go without punishment. We can also say that the Son was willing to come to die for our sins.

Ga 3:13, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

God roots the verdict of “no condemnation” in the flesh of Jesus. His physical death on the cross dealt with sin finally and completely. The Father condemned the Son for our sins.

God’s condemnation of sin by sending Jesus to die in His flesh is a judicial act. God poured out the full weight of His judgment against sin on Christ. He did not condemn Jesus the person but the physical body of Jesus. Putting to death of His body became a substitution for the condemnation we deserved.

The sin capacity as a controlling power was dethroned by Christ’s physical death on the cross. Jesus took our penalty for sin as a sacrifice for sin. That was the effect of His death on our behalf.

This verse does not say that we are unsusceptible to sin but that we are free from the necessity of sin. The Son of God bore our penalty of sin as our substitute. God will save no one without a penalty. God is always consistent with His character.

PRINCIPLE:

The only way to destroy the sin capacity is by the cross.

APPLICATION:

The sin capacity cannot be healed or redeemed but only destroyed. God can save the soul but not the sin capacity. There is no answer for its power except death. That is why the law is impotent. Only Christ’s death was adequate; His death effected the destruction of the sin capacity. Our identification with Christ in His death provides victory in principle over the sin capacity.

Redemption in Christ involves putting away the guilt of sin by a judicial act of God established on the death of His Son. God saved us in our sins by this, but He also provides a way to save us from our sins presently. There is no such thing as sinless perfection among Christians, but there is such a thing as being removed from the jurisdiction of the law and being placed under the jurisdiction of the Spirit of life in Christ. God cannot condemn a believer joined to Christ.