17.  FREEDOM FROM SIN - Romans 8:1-4

 

Chapter 8 continues Paul’s focus on the fruits and results of justification which the believer enjoys (5:21; 6:23; 7:25; 8:1,39). In this chapter, Paul is particularly concerned to show the believer’s triumph over all in the Christian life (8:33) and his freedom from condemnation in the complete sense (8:1).

This section of the chapter (8:1-4) picks up where Paul left off in Romans 7:24,25. Being unable to fulfill his desire for right living, Paul cries out to God for deliverance. What he needs is God’s ability to perform God’s commands, for though he has the desire within him to obey as the result of the new birth, he does not yet have the ability to actually obey from within himself. 

The connection between chapters seven and eight is seen with the word, ‘therefore.’ Because of what was said previously, ‘therefore.’ Paul now begins to show a more encouraging aspect of the believer’s current experience of grace, as contrasted with the unbeliever’s current experience of life (Rom 8:5ff), before going on to explain the duties and privileges of grace.

 

Please Read Romans 8:1-4

 

Verse 1: The word ‘therefore’ is connected with what has gone before, not only with Romans 7:24 and 25 as has been noted, but also with the entire argument of justification by faith in Christ Jesus. There is therefore, on the basis of this, no condemnation for believers (1:16,17; 3:21,24; 5:1,2,6-8,15,21; 7:6).

The word translated as ‘condemnation,’ is probably better translated as ‘penal servitude.’ The Greek word here, ‘katakrima,’ has the idea of being imprisoned and is well suited to the context of Romans 7 and 8. Paul has been crying out in Romans 7 for deliverance from ‘this body of death (7:24,’ and here in Romans 8, Paul expresses the thought that believers have no need to live as though they were still in penal servitude to sin, for they have been pardoned in Christ and delivered from sin’s bondage.

Believer’s have been reckoned as having died with Christ, having been buried with Him and having been raised with Him into His resurrected life (6:3-14), and therefore we are delivered from the guilt of sin. By also having the Spirit within, there is actual freedom from sin in daily living. There is no doubt about it, we are free from sin’s guilt and also free from its enslaving power (7:25; 8:2).

The second section of verse one is thought to have been wrongly transferred from verse four to verse one, as it is absent from many of the extant manuscripts. But the thought of the verse is that those who are united to Christ Jesus by faith do not regulate their inward and outward life by the inner principle of sin and death, but by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Sin is no longer the ruler of the Christian, for the Spirit of God now directs him.

Verse 2: The use of the word ‘for,’ gives us the reason as to why there is ‘no condemnation (or penal servitude) to those who are in Christ Jesus (8:1).’ The Holy Spirit is life, giving life both physically and spiritually (Jn 6:63; 2 Cor 3:6; Gal 6:8; Rom 8:11). The law of the Spirit of life then, is the forceful and effective inner principle and operation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of believers enabling them to actually demonstrate that life through obedience. The Spirit brings us real life on the basis of Christ’s death and our union with Him.

The work of the Holy Spirit delivers the believer from the remaining corrupting influence of sin (7:23,25) that seeks to bring him into unwilling servitude (7:14,23; Jer 17:9; Mt 6:12; 1 Jn 1:8,10). His work in us, frees us from this unwilling servitude to sin, enabling us to serve the Lord (2 Cor 3:17; Gal 5:1,2,13) and not sin.

Verse 3: The word ‘for’ in this verse, is used to prepare us for the basis of the believer’s freedom as mentioned in verse 2, for it will be explained in this verse.

The Law was unable to give the believer the freedom from sin needed to obey it. It told us what to do, but gave us no ability to do it. Ability to obey is necessary because of the power of sin.

But this freedom from the enslaving power of sin was accomplished by God in His Son, who satisfied Divine justice and set us free from sins power (Mt 21:37; Jn 3:16). This Christ did by assuming human nature, not as it was from creation, but as it is weakened by sin, though He Himself was free from sin (2 Cor 5:21; 8:9; Philip 2:7), in order to deal with sin once for all. In His flesh God condemned and punished the sins of His people (Is 53:4-6,8,11; Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45; Jn 1:29; 10:11,15; Rom 5:6-9,18,19; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13), breaking the power of sin.

Verse 4: God dealt with our sin in Christ in order that believers might fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law (Lev 19:18; Deut 6:5; Jer 31:33ff; Ezek 36:26ff; Mt 22:35-40; 23:23; Lk 11:42; Rom 13:9).

Having dealt with the power of sin and being now governed by the Holy Spirit, believers are able to live out the Law in their lives. We no longer regulate our lives according to the principle of sin, but according to the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16-25).

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: How are we able to prevent indwelling sin from controlling the way we live?

 

INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY

What is it to becarnally minded (8:6)?

 

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23/07/2007

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