Untitled Sermon (11)

“Through Him”

Romans 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

Romans 8:1–4 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

The Christian’s war with sin does not end until he goes to be with the Lord. Nevertheless, there is still no condemnation-because the penalty for all the failures of this life (and who of us does not have many, yea, even many every day!) has been paid in full at Calvary.

The holiest of believers are warned that, although they are no longer slaves to sin’s dominion, they will continually experience conflict with this old nature in this present life (cf Gal 5:17+, 1Pe 2:11+ where "wage war" is present tense).

The weakest of believers are promised that, although they still stumble and fall into sin’s power in their flesh, they will experience ultimate victory over sin in the life to come.

No (3762) (oudeis from oude in turn from ou = not + dé = but + heis = one) literally means "but absolutely not one". This negative thus denies absolutely and objectively the possibility in this case of condemnation by God. Not even one will ever be condemned to hell who is in Christ Jesus. Beloved, this should prompt a short worship service in our heart every time we read this passage! In Adam we were guilty and condemned to eternal separation from the Father, but Jesus intervened and redeemed us out of grave peril of eternal death and gave us eternal life in Himself! Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend!

The literal rendering of Romans 8:1 is "not even one therefore now adverse judgment and resultant punishment to those in Christ Jesus

And it's not ou, but oude, which is an even stronger negation in the Greek language. There is therefore, no condemnation. You might translate it this way: "There is no condemnation—none whatsoever—for the believer in Christ Jesus...

Do you know what that means? We may stumble, we may fall, we may trip, we may make a thousand mistakes, we may sin and we do, we may get off the path, we may go astray, we may have a thousand problems, but for the believer in Jesus Christ, there is, therefore now, no condemnation because God has said it is so. You can struggle, but you're not condemned. You can fall, but you're not condemned. You can trip, but you're not condemned. You can stray off the path, but you are not condemned because God has said He will not condemn those who are in Christ Jesus.

When Jesus saved you, he didn't say he would take away all your problems. No, but he did say this. In your problems, there is no condemnation. In your struggles, there is no condemnation, in your failure, there is no condemnation. In your going astray, there is no condemnation.

What does it mean, then? It means, number one, there is no rejection for the believer. God is not going to reject you just because you struggle. You're not a bad person just because you're having a hard time." (Romans 8) (Bolding added)

Condemnation (2631) (katakrima from katá = against, down + krino = basic meaning was "to separate" from which the idea of discriminate, distinguish, and then to judge or pronounce sentence against) appears only in Romans, here and in Ro 5:16-note, Ro 5:18-note.

The idea literally is of judgment coming down on someone. Paul says God’s judgment is not going to come down upon you, not now, not ever! From the valley of despair and defeat of living under the Law in Romans 7, the apostle now climbs the heights with the triumphant shout, "No condemnation" because of the believer's justification by faith. Those in Christ are not condemned, because Christ was condemned in their stead. There is no punishment for them, because Christ bore their punishment. It is notable that no condemnation is essentially the opposite of justification.

The word condemnation may also be translated "judgment." There is no judgment for those who are in Christ because sin has already been judged in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus.

Observe carefully that Paul does not base his assertion of no condemnation to the saint upon the saint’s conduct, but upon the saints' position. Our position in Christ has set us free from the compelling power of the evil flesh ("Adamic nature", "Old self or old man") and made us a partaker of the divine nature (see 2Pe 1:3, 4-note), a new inner condition which produces in every saint a life which has for its motive, obedience to His commandments and the power to follow through (see Philippians 2:13-note). In other words, it is what God has made the believing sinner that insures the fact that there is no cause for condemnation in him. This is indeed "good news"!

"no condemnation" is correctly translated “nothing worthy of condemnation,” as Erasmus and many others translate it; (for in point of fact) those who are in Christ are not exposed to condemnation. Again, this does not only describe their present state but their permanent position. They are placed beyond the reach of condemnation. They will never be condemned. The meaning of a preposition is often best understood by the arguments by which it is sustained. It is so in this case. The whole chapter is a proof of the safety of believers, of their security not only from present condemnation but from future perdition. That nothing will ever separate them from the love of God is Paul’s triumphant conclusion. Those for whom there is not now and never will be any condemnation are described first in their relationship to Christ and second in their character. The first assigns the reason for their security; the second enables us to determine to whom that security belongs. (Romans 8 - Hodge's Commentary on Romans)

So if God does not condemn you any longer, don't condemn yourself. Instead reckon yourself as out from under the penalty for sin or otherwise you are imposing a condition on yourself that God Himself does not impose.

Practically Paul is saying that there is no need to continually put yourself under condemnation every time you sin. In this same chapter Paul reiterates "Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us." (Ro 8:33- note, Ro 8:34-note, NLT)

The need for salvation is universal because of our connection to Adam and his sin. Adam fell, his nature became sinful, and all humanity bears his image and likeness (Genesis 5). All people born of Adam are naturally under condemnation and separated from God like Adam was (Romans 5:12–15). But Paul explains that those who have believed in Christ are now positionally in Christ. They are justified, or declared righteous, by grace through the redemption in Christ (Romans 3:24), and they are now alive in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). They have eternal life (Romans 6:23). Elsewhere, Paul emphasizes that the one believing in Jesus now has a new identity in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–14). Where there was once condemnation by God, there is now justification by God. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The believer’s new position, received by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), cannot be taken away. Once God declares someone righteous, no one can correctly accuse that person or justly condemn him (Romans 8:31–34). There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He took our condemnation upon Himself; He took the punishment that was due us all (1 Peter 3:18). All who believe in Him have eternal life (John 6:47) and are no longer condemned by God.

 explains that "for" "introduces the reader to the reason that there is no condemnation to the one in Christ Jesus. And it is the secret of the spontaneous Christian life that lifts one above the bitter exhausting life of the Christian herd (cf. Is 40:31). The gift of the Spirit is the fruit of justification (cf. see Ro 5:5; 7:6 notes Ro 5:5; 7:6), and He operates in the believer's life with the fixedness of a law (the word here probably means something like principle). His leading is not a matter of "sporadic impulse, but the believer's habitual experience" (cf. Gal 5:18; Ro 8:14 see note note). The presence of the sanctifying Spirit, always at work in the life of the believer, confirms the liberation of verse one. Sanctification, I repeat, is a necessary fruit of justification. Thus, a two-fold salvation results from union with Christ, salvation from the penalty of sin and salvation from the power, or bondage, of sin in the daily life. The law of the Spirit of life aids and supports the "law of the mind" (cf, see Ro 7:23- note) on the road to liberty. What we cannot do of ourselves, even when we are the recipients of a new nature, is done for us by the indwelling Spirit. The key to the deliverance of the believer from indwelling sin is the indwelling Spirit of Christ. The measure of His power within us is the life of God, infinite and eternal. In fact, in another place the apostle affirms that the new unit of measurement of the divine power in the believer's life is the resurrection of Christ. The power that raised Him from the dead works is us (cf. Eph 1:20, 21 - see notes; Micah 7:15). The crowning miracle of His life, His resurrection, is seen in His deliverance of us, an amazing fact (Romans 8:1-4 Power of the Indwelling Spirit) (Bolding added)

The law (principle) of life - The Holy Spirit is repeatedly described as the Source of spiritual life. Read Ro 8:10, 11; Jn 6:63; 7:38,39. Notice the "sphere" of this life - in Christ Jesus. Do you know and are you experiencing the Holy Spirit as your Source of life in Christ Jesus?

Paul is describing a principle of the spiritual life, like the law of gravity (see below), for one does not have to urge on the "law of gravity" to exert its effect. It does it because that is its natural function. It is like the heart beating. The principle is that it beats without having to be told to do so (excepting of course artificial means of stimulation). In the same way the "law of the Spirit of life" works constantly and will ultimately accomplish His goal of conforming each believer to the image of God's Son (see Ro 8:29, 8:3-note). One is reminded of God's promise to Jacob...

"And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:15)

So too the law of the Spirit will accomplish what God has promised (cp Phil 1:6-note). There is a new law for the new life., a new spiritual principal for a new spiritual life! This animating (life giving/producing) principle is the Holy Spirit Who acts as the Imparter of life (Jn 6:63).

The principle of the sin and its association with death is abundantly clear from Romans 7, where we saw the power of sin which brings death as demonstrated by every sin we commit and every cemetery we see. But now in the Risen Christ, Paul instructs us that the "operating principle" of the Spirit of life is stronger than that associated with Sin, and in fact has the inherent power to free us from the operating principle of sin and death, which controls all those who are still "in Adam" and which can still exert its deleterious effects upon those are now "in Christ". But Paul knows that the truth about these two principles has the potential to set his believing readers free to be all they have the potential to be "in Christ."

In short, the power of this new life is the Holy Spirit Who becomes the Almighty Agent within the believer, securing him wholly, making effectual in experience the deliverance which Paul saw when he cried in Romans 7:24-25:

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free (rhuomai = rescue by drawing or snatching another to oneself and invariably from danger, evil or an enemy) from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other,

We can't but He can (Galatians 2:20 -note)

Christ now in us and enables us to do what He has commanded us to do (see Philippians 2:12,13-note). We must come to the wretched end of ourselves (cp Romans 7:24-note), realizing we cannot live the life Christ lived unless He lives it through us, in the power of His Spirit, and ultimately for the glory of His Father. Have you reached this "wretched point" in your life? Take heart, there is great hope in Romans 8 for

"the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day." (Proverbs 4:18)

Comment: Remember that FREEDOM IN CHRIST is not the right to do as one pleases but the power to please God by doing what is right! Father, we thank You for the promises that Christ has set us free, that by His Spirit rivers of living water can now flow from our innermost being & that as we follow Him by abiding in His Word, we shall know the truth & the truth shall make us free & we shall be free indeed in the Son. Amen (Ro 8:2, Jn 7:37, 8:31-32,36)

Has set you free (1659) (eleutheroo = the ending " -oo" means not only will it be set free but it will be seen as set free) means to cause someone to be freed from domination. The picture is that of the emancipation of slaves. The idea is that the one set free is at liberty, capable of movement, exempt from obligation or liability, and unfettered. Although the act of setting free results in freedom and liberty we must understand that this new freedom is not a license to sin. In fact true liberty for the believer is now living as we should and not as we please.

There is nothing wrong with God’s Law - its good and perfect - problem lies with Us

Romans 7:21–24 “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”

Been our cry - want to do good but end up doing the very thing we did not want to do. Our inner being wants to please God, but the power to do so is out of our grasps - we are in bondage

Since our flesh was inadequate - God sent Christ in likeness of human flesh - Christ not come in sinful flesh - imply sin in him; not likeness of flesh - Christ only seemed to be in flesh

Likeness of sinful flesh = Christ took on man’s flesh without becoming a sinner

Result - he condemned sin in the flesh - conquered sin

means for us = v.4

Romans 8:1 speaks of being free from the

Guilt of sin

Romans 8:2 speaks of being free from the

Power of sin

Before we came to know Christ we were continually defeated by sin. When we came to know Him and to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit we were able to attain a standard we could never reach in our own strength. In interpreting these words the emphasis (is) on the way the Christian life is lived… (Ed: See summary of Romans 6:1-8:39 in the Romans Road to Righteousness). (Morris, L. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leicester, England: W. B. Eerdmans)

Now in Romans 8.4 we have three things: first, this righteous state or result; second, the fact that it was not fulfilled by us - we have no more power in ourselves than had the Old Testament saints: but it is fulfilled in us - it is the passive voice: be fulfilled. Third, it is fulfilled in us as we consent to reject the flesh and choose to walk according to the Spirit (Ed: Be careful here - this is subtle - don't try to fight off the desires of the flesh with the flesh, your old nature! The correct "order" is submission to the Spirit, Who will enable you to fight the good fight of faith - click for more detailed explanation of this principle discussed below). In the Spirit lies all the power. With us, the responsibility of choice - a blessed, solemn one! (Romans 8: Expository Notes Verse by Verse) (Bolding added)

Gods provision of salvation came not through Christ perfect teaching; perfect life; but through perfect sacrifices on the cross

Jesus not only pays the believers debt of sin but cleanses from all unrighteousness - 1 John 1:9

key to every aspect of salvation = in Christ Jesus

Christian = not outwardly identified with Christ but being part of Christ - not united with Him but united in Him

Isaiah 9:6 “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.”