Chapter eight is an elegiac song about the glory of being Christ’s own. In verses 1-8, Paul expands on the statement in the last half of verse 7:25. The first half of 7:25 answers the question, “Who can save me from this death?” (Rom. 7:24) The second half of 7:25 Paul tells of the two natures that are at war within us - the sinful fleshly nature and the new spiritual nature. Verses 1-8 of chapter eight shows us that the flesh (our old nature) is the way of death. The new nature, that of the Spirit of God is life.
***CHAPTER 8 - Outline8:1-4 - Free from Death
8:5-8 - Flesh is Death
8:9-11 - Spirit in You
8:12-17 - Spirit Testifies
8:18-25 - Creation Longs for Freedom
8:26-30 - God’s Plans
***
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
3 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,
4 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.
V. 1 - “Therefore” - Because of Christ Jesus our Lord, and what He has done for us...
“no condemnation” - Remember, “The man who sins will surely die.” (Ezek. 3:18), and “The soul who sins will die,” (Ezek. 18:4). But, God does not want people to die in their sin, “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies” (Ezek. 18:32), and “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather the wicked turn form his way and live.” (Ezek. 33:11)
This is not our lot - to die in our sin - because Jesus came to seek and save the lost. (See: Luke 19:10) See also: Mark 16:16; Luk. 8:12; Acts 15:11, 16:31.
V. 2 - “Christ Jesus has set you free” - The scenario is: Spirit of Life versus sin and death. Jesus came to save the lost (Luk 19:10). When you believe in Christ (i.e., place your life in His hands) you have new life (See: Jn 20:31; 1 Tim 1:16; 1 Jn 5:13). It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we come to eternal life (See: Jn 6:63; Rom 7:6, 8:6, 10; 1 Cor 15:45; 2 Cor 3:6).
V. 3 - “What the Law could not do” - What was the Law unable to do for us? It could not save us from sin, it could only alert us that we sin. (See: 2 Cor 3:6, 7; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:15, 16; Col 3:13, 14; 2 Tim 1:9)
“God did” - God took away the condemnation, the penalty of death through Christ Jesus. (See: Col. 2:13, 14) We have been reconciled to the Lord in Christ Jesus. (See: Col. 1:20; Eph. 2:16)
"as an offering for sin" - Sin offering was first addressed during the escape from Egypt. (See: Lev. 4:1-6:30) Jesus said the Last Supper, "for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." (Mat. 26:28) During the ceremony, blood was sprinkled on the altar by the priest - seven times 'before the Lord', (See: Lev. 4:6, 17) or the priest was to touch his finger in the blood and touch the horns of the altar and pour the rest at the base of the altar. (See: Lev. 4:25, 30).
“He condemned sin in the flesh” - Christ, being the perfect sacrifice in order to meet God’s justice requirements, died on the cross. It was a public execution, just as was the bull or goat sacrificed on the altar in the Tabernacle. All the sin of the world was placed on Jesus while on the cross. The price has been paid.
Another aspect of this statement: What Jesus did was not just spiritual, i.e., God acting from on high, thereby delaring us free from sin, even though we did not see Him do anything. Instead, God in Jesus Christ came to earth, being born of Mary. He lived and died on earth, in a physical human body, with all it's limitations. This is a big deal. There are instances in the Bible where divine beings spent time on earth, but none came to live permanently as a human being. Jesus came and lived 'in the flesh'. He was sacrificed in our place, physically - 'in the flesh'. Just the sacrificial lambs, goats, bulls, etc., physically died, so Jesus died. This was not an imaginary death. This was not the death of an animal that we can by faith believe carries away our sin. Jesus' death and resurrection actually, physically happened - 'in the flesh'. There is no doubt he died. There is no doubt he rose from the dead. All the sin of the world, of mankind from the beginning of time to now (whenever the end of now might be) were placed on Him. He took the condemnation on himself, that we might be free. No more shame. No more fear. No more death. Sin has been banished because He came 'in the flesh'.
His resurrection showed that death is not permanent for Him. He lives! The condemnation of sin was culminated in His sacrifice. He died in the flesh, and was made alive in the Spirit. (See: 1 Pet. 3:18)
V. 4 - “So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled” - The ‘so that’ makes us look back to verse 3. The Law could not be fulfilled (completed) unless a sacrifice sufficient for God was made. As follows:
- God sent His Son to live as an actual human (vs. 8:3a).
- God sent His Son to be the necessary sacrifice (vs. 8:3b).
- The Son’s sacrifice paid the full price for the world’s sin (vs. 8:3c, 4).
- No further payment is necessary, the Law is fulfilled (vs. 8:4a).
- Our response is by faith and the Holy Spirit, and not by obedience to the Law (vs. 8:4b).
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