Get ready to go a thrilling journey of the Book of Romans 8.
This time, we take a Q&A approach.
What does it mean that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ?”
It simply means that anyone in Christ is free from the judgment of sin. The punishment that befalls anyone who operates under the law or outside Christ cannot be meted out on those who are in Christ.
Why is there no condemnation for those who are in Christ according to the book of R8mans 8?
1. We cannot be condemned in Christ because He took the penalty of sin-
In the previous chapter, Paul discusses the struggles humans go through when they try to please God using the law. In the end, the same law that is meant to reveal sins ends up condemning people. In chapter 8, Paul now draws a contrast. Those who are in Christ cannot be condemned.
2. Because God already punished sin in Christ and fulfilled all the requirements of the law.
Romans 8:1-4 explains this point clearly. It says that we’re not condemned in Christ because “the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (ERV). Verse 3 states that “By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” (ERV). I now do not have any law to fulfill since Christ has done that. As a result, I cannot be condemned today EVEN IF I do something that the law forbade previously.
3. There is also no condemnation for those who are in Christ because He lives in us–
Jesus fulfilled the law and went further to dwell in us. When read using the TPT Bible version, Romans 8:4 reads as follows: “So now, every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living his life in us.” Christ, who fulfilled the demands of the law, lives in us. As a result, we cannot be condemned again since such an action would amount to double jeopardy. Remember, we died with Christ (Romans 6:4).
4. There is no condemnation for those in Christ because we can now achieve what the law intended–
I must admit that Romans 8 is somewhat tricky and requires total attention. To grasp it, we must keep going back to previous chapters. Remember the Bible was not originally written in chapters until 1557. Verse 4 says that we can now fulfill the law’s demands through Christ. This statement seems to contradict Paul’s words in Romans 6:14, where he says that sin shall not have dominion over us since we’re not under the law, but grace. One may wonder, “why is Paul at one point telling me that I uphold the law (Romans 3:31) before stating that I am not under the law, then later saying that every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through Christ?” One thing we must appreciate is Paul’s consistency about the importance of the law. At no point does Paul say the law is sinful or unimportant.
The law revealed our sins (Romans 7:7) and placed demands that no one could fulfill by relying on the old nature. Due to the penalty of sin (not the penalty of law), we were condemned. In short, our inability to meet the demands of the law (due to our sinful impulses), exposed us to condemnation. So, when Jesus was offered as the sin-offering, God “condemned the guilt and power of sin once and for all” (TPT). Now, the uncontrollable impulses of sin that made it impossible for us to keep the law are no longer active. Jesus, in the form of the Holy Spirit, has since taken that spot! He has replaced the sinful nature that rebelled against the law. We can now be holy, just as the law demanded, not because of our efforts but through the leading or prompting of the Spirit. When we obey the Holy Spirit’s leading, we do holy works and effectively fulfill the very requirements that the law promoted; only that it is not through the law that we’re justified. The CEV Bible puts verse 4 as follows: “He did this (set us free from the law of sin and death), so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.”
Should a believer struggle with sin?
No, a believer should not struggle with sin anymore because the sinful nature has been cut off- Romans 8:1-4 is clear that God set us from the law of sin and death so we could now live, not after the flesh, but the Holy Spirit. In Colossians 2:11, Paul says that when we came to Christ, we were circumcised by “the cutting away of your sinful nature” (NLT).
A believer should not struggle with sin because the Holy Spirit is now in charge– Paul teaches us that we were helpless in our old nature. We could not do anything holy. In fact, the sinful nature controlled us. Fortunately, “You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God’s Spirit, who lives in you” (CEV). The Holy Spirit will never lead us into sin; so, a believer should not persist in sin.
Believers have been empowered to resist sin– Verse 12 says that we have no obligation to obey sinful tendencies. This means that a believer can now stand up to sin and declare: “I won’t obey you anymore!”
Why do believers struggle with sin?
A believer can struggle with sin for failing to be aware of the realities in Christ regarding the liberation from the law of sin and death– The word of God is only effective in our lives when we comprehend it and enforce it in our lives through faith. This enforcement or appropriation occurs through declarations. Therefore, a believer who has never read, understood, and applied the insights revealed in the book of Romans and elsewhere may not realize their victory over sin.
Believers may also struggle with sin for not obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit– Looking closely at this chapter, it becomes clear that the Holy Spirit is meant to replace the sinful nature that prompted corrupt behaviors in us. If accorded His rightful position, the Holy Spirit will ensure a believer lives in absolute victory over sin.
Why do Christian believers die?
Believers die due to the effects of the original sin, but their death is inconsequential– Romans 8:10-11 says that our bodies must die due to the effects of sin. However, Paul adds that God’s Spirit of resurrection will raise us again. He says that although we will die, we have already been accepted.
What is spiritual maturity?
The true mark of spiritual maturity is a Spirit-led life– The ERV Bible puts Romans 8:14 as follows: “The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them” while the TPT Bible says that “the mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit.”
What does “suffer with Christ mean?
Paul, in Romans 8:17, says that “we will also share in the glory of Christ because we have suffered with him” (CEV). Suffering with Christ means embracing the discomfort that comes with being identified with Him. By the time Paul was writing the book of Romans, he had been through “hell” for his testimony of Christ. While we may not be persecuted like Paul, we also suffer daily for our relationship with Christ. Think about the many “good” things you forfeit to protect your integrity as a believer.
What does it mean that “creation groans”?
The phrase shows the anticipation that characterizes the entire creation as it waits for God to complete His plan of redemption by unveiling His sons. Although Jesus has died and subsequently redeemed us, the final unveiling is yet to happen. It will happen when we eventually get new bodies. Paul says that we are eager to have our bodies released from sin and suffering and “hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.” I love comparing this explanation with graduation. On graduation day, graduands wear a gown and are awarded a certificate confirming their full competence. Even before graduation, many already know that they are graduating but yet to get the documents and gowns. Likewise, our salvation is assured, but the crowning and unveiling remain undone.
What does “the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses” mean?
This phrase appears in Romans 8:26 and it simply means that the Holy Spirit helps us to live our lives as believers despite the frailty of our bodies. Paul then gives an example of prayer. He says that we sometimes do not what to pray for, yet this does not matter because the Holy Spirit takes over and pleads on our behalf.
What does “all things work together for good” mean?
It means that the things we go through after the Holy Spirit intercedes for us are all intended to work according to God’s preconceived plan. The phrase “all things work together for good” appears in Romans 8:28 and many people use it to argue that whatever they go through in life is meant for good. Well, this is not necessarily accurate. If a believer violates the law and ends up in prison, they cannot use this verse to rationalize their circumstances. To understand this verse, we must read the preceding verse 27 and subsequent 29. Paul, in verse 27, tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf to ensure our prayers align with God’s will. Obviously, this praying leads to certain outcomes, which fit the “good” (the sovereign plan) discussed in verse 28. Since God foreknew and predestined us, the events that occur in our lives as this plan unfolds are necessary for its fulfilment.
The “good” in “all things work together for good” is about us becoming like Christ– As believers, we love quoting this verse to comfort ourselves, even when we suffer due to our irresponsibility. We should “put our manners back in” and stop molesting scriptures to say what we want. The whole verse (28) reads “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (NLT). It continues to say that “for God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” If you combine everything Paul discusses in the chapter, particularly from verse 22, you will realize that the message is about us becoming more like Jesus.
What does “for those whom He foreknew, He also predestined” mean?
This is a question that always elicits sharp disagreements between Calvinists and Arminians. The Arminians argue that in His omniscience, God knew beforehand those who’d believe in Christ and subsequently chose them. In response, Calvinists describe the Arminians’ response as absurd, arguing that election was and is God’s sovereign act. Answering this question requires us to ask another one. Did God foreknow, predestine, and pre-determine who would get saved?
Based on the consistency of scriptures, God foreknew (meaning He had the prior knowledge of) who’d get saved and subsequently laid out their lives, BUT DID NOT pre-determine anyone’s fate. I, therefore, support Arminians’ view that “for those whom He foreknew, He also predestined” means that God relied on His omniscience to foresee the future regarding those who would believe in Jesus and went further to plan for their destiny. Sadly, this response raises other valid questions. First, why do people oppose Arminianism on the issue of predestination? The few articles I sampled, like this one by Pastor John Piper, argue that mentioning faith as the basis of foreknowledge implies that man was responsible for his salvation, yet it is God who empowers us to believe. With respect, I fail to see the logic behind Piper’s argument, considering that John 3:16 suggests that humans must respond to Christ’s work through faith to receive salvation. Unfortunately, I will not delve into the topic further, but you can read views from others here and here.
What does “if God is for us, who can be against us” mean?
It simply means that in light of God’s decision to lay out our plans through foreknowledge (fore-ordination), nothing can ever thwart this plan. If “God is for us, who can be against us?” does not in any way suggest the absence of opposition or even suffering. It only means that nothing can derail the ultimate goal that God has for us.
What does “He who did not spare His own son” mean?
This phrase appears in Romans 8:32 and it reads in full: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Prosperity preachers use this verse to teach that God will give us all things, including cars and other earthly possessions. Is that what Paul is teaching here? Far from it! If that were the case, Paul would have been the richest apostle. So, what does it mean? To understand the verse, we must read the preceding ones, especially verse 31, which starts with “What then shall we say to these things?” What things? The “things” of being foreknown and predestined. So, the things Paul is talking about here revolve around anything required to fulfil God’s divine will over our pre-arranged destiny! I put it to you (and I am really sorry) that the things that will not be withheld MAY include tribulations if at all they are relevant to our conformity to Christ! Verse 35 shows that no problems that bedevil the world can ever affect our position in Christ.
What is God saying to us today through Romans?
Key takeaways
- Believers can live in victory over sin.
- A believer’s victory and joy of salvation depend on how well they interact with the Holy Spirit.
- No amount of suffering should discourage us from our walk of faith.
Important thoughts to ponder
Jesus kept the law so I would not have to keep it, right? NOPE. Jesus kept the law so I would learn how to keep it, too! Think about this thought and let’s interact.
Why did Jesus have to keep the law?
Because it was the only way to be qualified as a sin offering. Sounds weird, right? Leviticus 4:22 says that any leader in Israel who violates any of God’s commands but does not realize it is still guilty. Later, when he becomes aware of his sin, “he must bring as his offering a male goat with no defects.” Jesus was our sin offering (Romans 8:4) and He had to be without a blemish. If Jesus had violated even one of the requirements of the law, He’d not have been qualified to die for us!
