The Blessed Life – Part 3
Life Not Law
Romans 8:1-11
It was once said that if the Bible is a gold ring, the book of Romans is the 3-carat diamond on the ring and Romans 8 is the glistening point on the diamond. The power of this chapter on the soul is shouted out from the first verse: “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
Why is there power in this declaration? Because for the first seven chapters Paul had spoken about the power of the law. He even said in the 1st chapter, “They suppress the truth in their unrighteousness,” and then the fact that “God displays His righteous judgement through the law.” (Romans 2) He continued, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3), “Death in Adam but alive in Christ” (Romans 5), “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6), and then this: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” (Romans 7)
This births the bold declaration in Romans 8:1: “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” The point in the diamond starts to reflect its glory!
You are set free (verse 2) “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
God victorious through Jesus (verse 3) “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.”
Now made right (verse 4) “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
The mind of flesh and mind of the Spirit (verse 5) “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” We have often heard the derogatory phrase of someone that they are “too heavenly-minded to be of any earthly good.” What a tragic lie. The exhortation here is that the more heavenly-minded we are in the Spirit, we are more earthly-good against the flesh.
Which road are you on? (Verse 6) “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Jesus spoke about the wide, easy path leading to death and destruction but a narrow, difficult way leading to life.” There are no gray areas here. There are only 2 choices, 2 roads, 2 destinations, but we set our minds in the Spirit, which gives us life and peace. This is a life that lasts into eternity and a peace which surpasses all human understanding.
The warning (verse 7) “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.” As such, we are at enmity with God because the Apostle told us plainly in verse 8, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” The Psalmist told us plainly that we should “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way.” (Psalm 2:12) What way does he speak of? Your way, not The Way; the broad highway, the wide way of the flesh which leads to death; the focus on your job, your finances, your holidays, your kids, your health, your house – but no thought in all of those things of God. “Our God is a consuming fire.” Kiss the Son”: Jesus. Submit your heart, mind, soul and strength to Him. That miracle has happened in you, I trust.
The contrast (verse 9) “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” We are born from above, born of the Spirit, born again in Christ. The Spirit in us cries “Abba Father.” He is our Heavenly Father, our dearest Dad, more than any earthly father could ever possibly achieve. We are His children, Paul again said further down in this amazing gem of a chapter. Romans 8:16: “His Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God.”
This is Life! The law has no authority over a spirit-filled follower of Jesus.
What about this dodgy tent? Ever been in one of those? I have - most school camps. (Verse 10) “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” We have the Spirit, but we are in a leaky tent: our body. And Paul told us in Romans 6:23 that “The wages of sin is death.” That’s why he said there are 2 laws inside us: the law of sin/flesh/death and the law of grace/Spirit/life.
The eternal promise for a mortal body (verse 11) “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Jesus died, but He rose, defeated sin, law and death. Our bodies will die, because of the law of sin and death, but the same Spirit that raised up Jesus will raise you up.
Therefore, a vital question needs to be answered. Is the Spirit of Christ in you? You say yes. How do you know for sure? You say, well I am a sinner. Good, that’s the truth. You say I have accepted Jesus as my Saviour from sin. Hallelujah! That’s encouraging, but let me ask you, as we did last week: Where’s the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life!
Take the fruit/gift test! Fruit of the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit are found in John 15 and Galatians 5:22, 23.
Evidence/fruit of the flesh: Turned from first love (Revelation 2:4). Attitude/words condemn you (Galatians 5:19, 20).
Opportunity for a blessed life: A Life in Christ set free from the Law of sin and death: sign up today.