Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) What does it mean that there is, “Now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”? (verse 1)
2) Two different laws are mentioned. What does each mean?
3) If there is no condemnation, why does Paul discuss the flesh in such detail in these verses?
Romans 8:1-11
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
Original Intent
1) What does it mean that there is, “Now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”? (verse 1)
Condemnation is a strong word. Paul wants his audience to understand the severity of what they deserve as a punishment from their sin. His audience is a group of sinners deserving of death. No matter how hard they have tried to do good, live a right life, and obey the rules, they have failed somewhere. Therefore, they deserve death. However, Paul is reminding them, as believers, they no longer face this condemnation of death, shame, and fear. More so, they never will! Jesus has paid the price and taken the full punishment on Himself. Once they are in Christ, they no longer need to fear condemnation or God’s wrath upon them.
2) Two different laws are mentioned. What does each mean?
These verses mention both the law of the Spirit and the law of sin and death. The law of the Spirit is the law under which Jesus reigns. Paul is reminding his audience of all Jesus accomplished by dying on the Cross where He defeated death and the grave once for all for those who call upon, and place their full trust in, His Name. This is the good news of the Gospel! The law of sin and death is a reference to our imperfections and our constant failure to measure up to the perfection for the Law. In the Old Testament, the law pointed the Israelites to the truth they could never be perfect or earn life on their own. The punishment for this sin in the Old Testament was death, typically the death of an animal in order for forgiveness. Paul is reminding his audience in order to be free of sin and death they must be covered by Jesus’ righteousness.
3) If there is no condemnation, why does Paul discuss the flesh in such detail in these verses?
Throughout Paul’s writings he discusses the flesh and the battle that takes place more than once. Although the believers Paul is writing to are free from condemnation, Paul still is led by God’s Spirit to discuss the flesh. Romans 7:14-25 is a description of the flesh, which Paul himself dealt with. Paul desires for his audience to understand although they are free in Christ, there is a constant battle waging within to choose surrender to Christ or to return to old pattern of sin. This is the battle of the flesh. Paul admits he does not always choose what he should or what he wants to choose, and that part of himself is in constant disagreement with the work of the Spirit in his life. He cannot ignore the flesh, and neither can his audience.
Everyday Application
1) What does it mean that there is, “Now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”? (verse 1)
No matter how hard we try to live a sinless life and do good we will fall short. Paul is clear in Romans 3:23 when he tells his readers “all fall short”. The reality is we all deserve punishment and condemnation for our sins. Praise Jesus the story doesn’t end there! Romans 6:23 tells us of the “gift of God that is eternal life in Christ Jesus”. Paul is referencing this exact gift in these verses. We face no condemnation because Jesus’ gift is eternal life when we believe in Him. Did you catch that… we deserve death, but in Christ we are gifted life! There is nothing sweeter than this, and God uses Paul to remind us of that beautiful truth. The day we place our faith in Jesus and what He accomplished for us, we no longer fear condemnation, but can rest in the truth of our rescue!
2) Two different laws are mentioned. What does each mean?
These two laws seem to be confusing. The reality is we have all lived, or are still living, under sin and death. While living without Jesus, we were sinners and deserved death. Much like the Israelites in the Old Testament, we could never measure up and innocent blood must be spilled in order for forgiveness to be given. However, the good news is that Jesus has already come and paid the ultimate price for our sins and the sins of the world. It is now our choice whether we will accept the gift being offered and choose to live under the law of life in Christ Jesus. This is the law which sets us free!
3) If there is no condemnation, why does Paul discuss the flesh in such detail in these verses?
While we have no condemnation because we are in Christ, we live in the days before Jesus returns to set all things right. For believers, this creates a constant tension between the spirit and the flesh because we live here while our souls are renewed for eternity. Paul discusses this in Romans 7 when he admits he struggles with the desire of his flesh wanting to do what his spirit tells him not to do. If Paul, who experienced Jesus in such an incredible way on the road to Damascus, faced this struggle of sin vs life, so will we. However, Paul reminds us we can rest assured while we battle with the flesh that the war is won; we can have peace knowing we have been gifted eternal life! One day, the battle will be over and we walk freely in Life and Love without any pull to sin!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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