Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
If John 3:16-17 is the key passage showing God’s intention in sending Jesus, Romans 8:1-4 is a key passage that shows the results of His completed mission.
When Paul finally surrendered to Jesus, he found that he could finally live in victory and true righteousness in a way that his striving under the law could never achieve. The difference is in the two ways of life that he referred to earlier: life under the law, in which he lived as a Pharisee, and life under the Spirit, in which he now lived as a Christian.
Life under the law, striving to produce righteousness by slavish obedience to an external set of rules and standards brought only condemnation, because no one can do it perfectly, or even well, due to the drag of the sinful nature, or “the flesh” as Paul calls it in the Greek. Paul had lived under that frustrating burden for the first half of his life, and had failed miserably, as he clearly portrayed in chapter 7.
But through faith in Jesus, Paul was now able to live life under the law of the Spirit. This was a completely different way of living. It was not a life of striving against the overwhelming current of the world, the flesh and the devil. Instead, it was being given the ability to soar on the very wind of God’s breath as the Holy Spirit took control, guided, gave clear vision and understanding, and gave power to obey.
And this was no “paper” righteousness, a philosophical or theological state of righteousness independent of actual practice. Paul found that his heart had been made right, something that none of his prior string had ever been able to produce. And that change of heart empowered consistent right action, true righteousness, genuine holiness. There was not more struggle and striving; real obedience became as natural as breathing.
Paul lays all the credit for the victorious life he was living directly at the feet of Jesus. When Jesus, not just the Son of God, but fully human as well, gave Himself up as a sin offering on the cross, it broke the back of sin’s power over all who are willing to trust in Him for salvation.
Paul notes in his own life, and in the lives of all those he knew who trusted in Jesus and who allowed themselves to live their lives according to the Spirt, that the result was consistent: a supernatural ability obey God, and to be genuinely holy from the heart. Instead of living life in their own strength, they literally lived out the life of Jesus every day as the Holy Spirit manifested that life through them. It is what Paul had expressed so wonderfully in his earlier letter to the Christians in Galatia (Galatians 2:19-20 NIV): For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And this victory, this life of power and true holiness, is not just available to a small collection of “saints”. It is the result of the divine gift of transformation and communion with God that is the end result of the gospel, freely given to “whoever believes in (Jesus).” (John 3:16)
Father, I remember very clearly when I went from trying to obey Your commands in my own strength, and failing, to fully trusting in Jesus and starting to live life according to the Spirit, finally being set free from the law of sin and death and receiving all the grace I need to live by the law of the Spirit. Such glorious freedom! And it has continued to this very day. But, Lord, I know that there are still so many Christians today who have never realized this freedom that is available to them and are striving in their own strength and failing every day. Help me to share this great good news of real freedom, real victory, and real holiness with them today. Amen.