Romans 8:1-4: No condemnation

Romans 8:1-4 KJV - No condemnation

Romans 8:1-4 KJV

[1]  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

[2]  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

[3]  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

[4]  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Therefore

The word ‘therefore’ indicates that what is about to be written is based on something that preceded it. Thus, to fully understand what Paul is about to say about ‘no condemnation’, one must be aware of what was discussed before this statement. The ‘no condemnation’ is applicable only to those who are ‘in Christ’, and ‘who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’. Thus, to determine what is meant by ‘in Christ’, we must have knowledge of Romans 1 to 5 concerning justification, which seals us ‘in Christ’, and we must have knowledge of Romans 6 to 7 concerning sanctification, which teaches us how to walk after the Spirit. Simply put, if you do not have a knowledge and understanding of Romans 1 to 7, this verse will be void of truth and value in your life. When you come to the word ‘therefore’, it is an important indicator to make sure you are well versed with the information that precedes that statement.

No condemnation

What do the words, ‘no condemnation’ mean? Are we talking about God’s wrath and punishment of hell or does this have a different meaning? Well, the ‘no condemnation’ is connected to two conditions as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The first condition is ‘in Christ’ and the second is ‘who walk after the Spirit’. We should already know from the preceding chapters in Romans that a person who is ‘in Christ’ (justified) is saved from wrath and hell, Rom.5:18. Thus, ‘no condemnation’ most certainly includes an acquittal from wrath and hell. But, based on condition two, we should also understand this statement to be an exemption from self-condemnation. Let me explain.

What condemns? The law. It is the law that works death in us and brings guilt and wretchedness as Paul mentions in Rom.7:7-25. But, as we learn what it means to be delivered from the law, and exercise faith to walk after the Spirit, condemnation will increasingly fragment. Unlike the instantaneousness of justification, sanctification is a life-long journey. We learn and increase in the knowledge of our doctrine, and as our mind becomes more renewed, we slowly transform more towards the image of Christ within us. Paul writes the following,

Rom.6:16-18  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  [17]  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  [18]  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

We learn to yield to obedience, but it can only come when ‘that form of doctrine’ has been received in our heart and understood. When our grace doctrine starts to renew the spirit of our mind, Eph.4:23, so that we think and act under its influence and not under the influence of the law of sin in our flesh, that is when we start to walk after the Spirit. That is what Paul means when he says, “obedience unto righteousness”. When this righteousness starts to manifest in us, condemnation starts to fragment. Let’s read the verse again with this new understanding,

[1]  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are (#1) in Christ Jesus, (and, #2) who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Can I point out that one can be justified but still have a sense of self-condemnation. This is a good reason for continuing in the second step of our salvation, namely sanctification. God, through Christ, has not only saved us from hell, but desires that we come to a knowledge of the truth (of our doctrine), 1Tim.2:4, and learn to walk in sanctification too, which bears great reward in the ages to come.

The law of the Spirit of life

[2]  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

What is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus? We know what the law of sin and death is, and through this verse we learn that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death in our flesh. Well, as the above article has already explained, the law of the Spirit of life is the form of doctrine that we learn, and are renewed by, and walk in obedience to, Rom.6:17. This is the only counterbalance for sin and death in the flesh. We cannot do anything else in ourselves to overcome, and be freed from sin and death, except to walk after the Spirit, which is to obey our doctrine, which is the law of the Spirit of life. Paul refers to this same Spirit of life when he says we ought to serve in newness of spirit by means of the Spirit of life,

Rom.7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

What the law could not do

[3]  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

In Romans 7, Pauls says that the law is holy, just, and good, and that the law is spiritual, but we are carnal, sold under sin. The law is rendered ineffective in the flesh. The flesh cannot abide by the law. In contrasting effect, the law increases sin because it brings awareness of it and triggers the law of sin in the flesh, producing sin. Because of this, it is impossible to obey the law. We have no ability to please God in the flesh and no matter how much we try, we remain at enmity with God, because the flesh is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom.8:7.

This is why the cross of Christ is central to our faith. It is by the sacrifice of Christ that sin in the flesh was condemned, and his righteousness imputed to us when we believe in the gospel of Christ. Paul reiterates that works of righteousness can not earn us salvation, nor can it please God. 

The only way to be justified is by faith in Christ without the deeds of the law.

Rom.3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  …  [28]  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

And the only way to be sanctified is to learn our doctrine, (Paul’s epistles), be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and allow the truth to influence our thoughts and actions in obedience unto righteousness. This will cause us to walk after the Spirit and operate in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, free of condemnation. Hallelujah.

[4]  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.