December 4, 2008

No Condemnation To Those In Christ Jesus

“[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. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 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, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Romans 8:1-9 NKJV)

Those who are in Christ have His Spirit within them. They no longer walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Now, this is a point that requires careful thought. On the one hand, we can go too far and cause people to think we are speaking of works righteousness, and on the other hand, people might believe in justification without any change in life.

Perfection is not to be expected in the life of a believer. However, a desire for perfection should dominate his life, and motivate him towards holiness. This is what it means to be lead by the Spirit. God works spiritual mindedness in the believer.

The carnal mind is set on the flesh and sin. The spiritual mind is set on God. When Paul says that God sent His Son that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, he was saying that Christ fulfilled the law and imputed that righteousness to us so that we might walk in that righteousness. Imputed righteousness is not without power as seen in the context here. Imputed righteousness comes with the ability and responsibility to walk in righteousness. If that desire is not there, then you do not have Christ.

Now, if you do have Christ, there is no condemnation. This is a needed truth because it is very easy as a believer to see sin. The closer you get to God the more hideous your sins become. They are not worst to God, but they are worst to you. You feel the weight of them more. In turn, this makes the precious blood of Christ dearer to you, and motivates you even more towards holiness. Without knowing that Christ does not condemn the saint, the weight of this sin would crush one with hopelessness.

However, we can praise God that He has removed our sin as far as the East is from the West (Ps 103:12). “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NKJV). Amen.