Commentary Romans 8:1-2

A study in the word: Romans 8:1-2 (eh it’s a bit short and confusing)

1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

This verse comes after the last verse in chapter seven which says “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” This verse gives the background for 8:1-2. Therefore, let me first explain 7:25. Paul, here, is saying that he is a slave to God’s law. (Douleuw δουλευω meaning to be slaving) He is like this because he is an individual saved though Jesus Christ. Now the part after this say “but with the flesh the law of sin.” This refers to the sin nature, the flesh. The flesh is subject to the control of sin. In Greek sin means to miss [the mark]. Therefore, we who sin are inherently unable to always do what is right and therefore are from the moment that we commit our first knowledgeable sin, eternally condemned to hell without the preservation present in Christ.

We now come to verse one. Those who are in Christ Jesus are Christians. Therefore this verse is information for all those who are saved. We are no longer subject to the law of sin. Christians are not to be condemned. In Greek this word means to pass judgment on another. Thus, those who are in Christ Jesus are freed from the eternal punishment in hell.

Verse two gives further information. The reason that we can be freed from this judgment is the law of the Spirit of life. This law stems from Jesus. The reason for this being is his death on the cross. John 10:10 says: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.” The entire reason for Christ’s being here on earth in a corporeal state was not just to perform miracles, it was not to bring forth a new Jewish nation, it is all much more simple then both of those. His entire reason for being was to give life to people, to all people in the present and future. Also his death allowed the faithful of past times to enter into direct communion with God. Christians are the end result of his death on the cross.

Now that we have been freed from condemnation, we have also been freed from the control of sin. We have broken free of the chains that have bound us to sin and its eternal (but not earthly) ramifications. Still we are not to keep in sin, we are to resist it with everything that we are. As long as we remain in these earthly bodies we will always have the sin nature. However, because God has died for us, because he has freed us, we now have the means to resist effectively. Romans 8:9 says “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” We are no longer under the control of the sin nature. While we may give in from time to time we have been given the spirit of God. Let us therefore go on into life with the Strength of God and resist temptation and try to live a life in accordance with the Bible.