Romans - Chapter 8

Romans 8 (New International Version)



Life Through the Spirit

There is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ. The Spirit has set them free from the law. The law could not free us because of mans inherent “sin nature”. God freed us by sending Jesus in the same likeness as sinful man to be the perfect sacrifice. Thereby paying the required price once and for all. Now and forever more, the requirements of the law have been fully met for those who live according to the Spirit (Sanctified believers).

Romans 8:1-4
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 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, 4 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.

When we lived by our “sin nature” we desired only sinful things. We were possessed by that nature and it sinned through us – we had no control. When we are filled (indwelt) by the Holy Spirit our minds are set on the things of the Spirit. The sin nature no longer has control. The Spirit lives through us. The sin nature is hostile to God and will not submit to His law. If we are controlled by our sin nature we cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You are not controlled by the “sin nature” if the Spirit of God lives in you. If you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit your body is dead because of sin, but your spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of God is living in you, than just as Christ died to abolish all sin and was raised again from the dead in righteousness and glory; so we have died to our “sin nature” to be raised again in righteousness by the power of His Spirit.

Romans 8:9-11
9 You however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

We are no longer obligated to the “sin nature”. By the power of the Spirit that lives within us we have put to death those sinful desires. We have no reason to fear any longer. We are now sons of God. The Spirit living within us testifies we are God’s children. By that we are co-heirs with Christ. We shall share in His glory.

Romans 8:12-17
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.