The Epistle of ROMANS

Chapter Eight – (Part One)

Note: The Epistle of Romans is written to the Church of the Body of Christ and stresses The Law of Believing.

This chapter continues where we left off at the end of Chapter five since Chapters six (6) and seven (7) are a parenthesis which is a figure of speech which is an 'explanation'. The last verse of chapter five (5) reads as follows:

Romans 5: 21 -- That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Literal: Romans 5: 21 -- In order that, as sin established its reign by way of death, so God's grace might establish its reign in righteousness, and issue in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. There is therefore now no condemnation (katakrima -- judgement) to them which are in Christ Jesus. [end of verse]

Literal: Believers should not condemn themselves if they are doing their best for God and are renewing their mind to God's Word.

The phrase 'in Christ Jesus' refers to the renewed mind. You should be aware that when the scribes wrote down the Word of God, at times, they made mistakes. This verse is an example of that type of error. Sometimes, the eyes of the scribe would wander and this is understandable because of the amount of writing they were required to do. If you take a look at verse four (4), you will see the statement "who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." That could be where the scribes got that statement from and placed it, by mistake, into verse one. The mistake appears harmless but results in private interpretation and a mistranslation and misinterpretation of God's perfect Word. In some Critical Greek texts, the second half of verse one is omitted.

God clearly states that we are not to condemn ourselves. Not knowing our sonship rights and self-condemnation are two of the greatest things that steal our more than abundant life from us. I heard it put in a blunt way by a great leader of God's people. This man of God said that condemnation and not knowing one's Sonship Rights are two of the greatest life-suckers that exist. [See teachings on The Five Sonship Rights]. If you get out of fellowship with God, and the Word of God says you will at times, don't condemn yourself, simply confess your sin to God and get back in fellowship as soon as possible.

2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Literal: Because in Christ Jesus the life-giving law of the Spirit has set you free from the law of sin and death.

The word 'pneuma' here is referring to spiritual abilities given by God. This 'Spirit of life' referred to in verse two is the new birth and receiving 'pneuma hagion' -- the gift of holy spirit. This new life, made available by Christ Jesus, makes us free from the law of sin and death. Here are some other scripture backups:

I Corinthians 15: 45 -- And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a (life) quickening spirit.

John 8: 32 -- And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Galatians 5: 1 -- Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (the law).

We are to stand forth boldly with a fearless mind because we are set free and we are not to be caught up or entangled with the law since Christ came to do away with the schoolmaster (the law).

Galatians 3: 24 -- Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto (until) Christ, that we might be justified (made righteous) by faith (by the faith of Jesus Christ).

Galatians 3: 25 -- But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (by way of the senses), God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Literal: For the law being powerless, because our lower nature (the five senses) robbed it of all potency, God has done by sending His own Son in a form like that of our own sinful nature, and as a sacrifice for sin.

He has passed judgement against or condemned sin in that very nature -- in the flesh. The beginning of the verse in the King James Version says: "For what the law could not do.........." What was one of the things that the law could not do and an area where it was powerless?

Acts 13: 39 -- And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Hebrews 7: 19 -- For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Hebrews 10: 1 -- For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Hebrews 10: 2 -- For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged (cleansed) should have had no more conscience of sins.

Hebrews 10: 14 -- For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

When Christ condemned sin in the flesh, it was a one time thing. If we break fellowship, we get right back in and move on. All thoughts of past sins are not coming from God. Don't be sin-conscious. We are now justified by what Christ accomplished and this was not available through the law.

II Corinthians 5: 21 -- For he (God) hath made him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The point of your study here is to understand the Word of God you are studying. It does not matter how much time you spend on a verse or what time it is. Everything will improve in your life as you continue to renew your mind and act on what you have learned. There is nothing more important that you could be doing right now.

To conclude the study of this one verse of Scripture, here is a quote from the New English Bible:

Romans 8: 3 -- What the law could never do, because our lower nature robbed it of all potency, God has done by sending his own Son in a form like that of our own sinful nature, and as a sacrifice for sin, he has passed judgement against (condemned) sin within that very nature.

4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Literal: That the righteousness of the law (the act of justification accomplished in and for the sinner) with the result that it was fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh (the five senses), but who walk after, or according to the Spirit.

Our conduct is no longer under control of the flesh or the five senses but we walk according to the revealed Word and Will of God -- by revelation.

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