Amplified: Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
Phillips: No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are "in" Jesus Christ. (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: Therefore, now, there is not even one bit of condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Young's Literal: not even one therefore now adverse judgment & resultant punishment to those in Christ Jesus
Therefore - meaning this is a continuation of chapter 7. Chapter 7 left us hanging but it wasn't the end. It laid the foundation to convince us we cannot keep the law, nor break the power of sin on our own. We need the Holy Spirit plus our cooperation.
The chapter begins with a quick firm herald of truth: now, we need to believe that condemnation, once hanging over our heads has been removed, because we are in Christ Jesus.
This verse is the proof of why we believe in Eternal Security.
But why does the chapter begins this way?
To show us that no matter how we walk, whether to frailly fall into sin or to often live by rules apart from the Holy Spirit, this imperfect weak kind of Christian is still accepted and not condemned.
It is a most common error to look at other Christians and to critically comment on their behavior, activities, and sins. Truly this does disturb us, but we must look upon our brethren as cleared of their sin penalty and given adoption status just like us. This is to make us aware that we are all born of the same Spirit and walk on a level plain. We are just each at a different level of enlightenment [much of it ignorantly due to lack of heart or disciplines].
See yourself as imperfect as they--making no difference on the difference in types of conduct. We all have the same sin propensities, the same weaknesses toward any sin and selfish behaviors. Do for them what you would want from them--they, knowing your sins.
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Romans 4:7-8 New English Translation (NET Bible)
7 “Blessed[a] are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the one[b] against whom the Lord will never count[c] sin.”
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...who walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after...the Spirit. This phrase defines who we are. We are regenerated, given God's life, infused with Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, given a new overriding desire to walk in harmony with the Spirit.
As God's new creatures, we are possessed with a passion to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. This identifies us as Christians; what we order our life after.
True Christians want to walk and please God.
The Holy Spirit lives within us. We know He does. We can sense the times and experiences of His presence. Though His presence at times seem to be small, be assured He is eternal and larger beyond limit as to His power to lead you, teach you, help you, pardon you, be patient with you, and bring you out of the darkness and into the Light.
He requires your trust, your patience, your heart, your continuance. You must never give up for God never fails. He will bring you along. But the limits lie within you as to the trust, the guidelines to handle temptation, the will to say no even if it pains you, and the will to trust and obey Christ during the hour of temptation.
We must follow in Christ's steps. We must endure even as Christ endured in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is no quick wand to make every sin and temptation go away. We have our responsibility to be a good servant who learns to listen to his master and to do all He requires.
Solitude, contemplation, inter-change about the thoughts of the heart from servant and Master are required to resist the assaults and paths of the Evil One.
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blessed....who walk after the Spirit...
All guidance and power to overcome any sin is found in the completed work of Jesus Christ, on the cross! He finished it. He is the way to become. He is the answer to freedom and change. Pursue Him more than for answers. He, being the Answer, will in time and at an opportune time reveal what we need.
There were matters I sought answers for from the Lord. But the more I just rested and spent time in prayer with Him, listening to Him, applying His will to my decisions, in time [years] He showed me applications for my troubling sins and horrendous selfishness. I am far from complete. But I've made progress. This is a testimony of hope.Christ is to be sought not for an answer. Christ is to be sought as a union experience. He desires an unbroken connection of walking with Him. He wants to hear from us and we need to listen to Him in each moment of life.
The answer to Sin and our selfishness is the Spirit of God, to Jesus only. Even if we remain blind to judging right and wrong, sin or wisdom, a selfish attitude or. not---- the Spirit of God is patient, gracious, and will bring us along to the final complete answer you seek.
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The soul can be changed. Transformation in Christ cannot greatly occur if we are spiritual blind--if we cannot see, if our eyes are not opened. Walking with Christ in a state of transparency and wellness for help will mature us.
Young people face the greatest struggles for change. Their perspective is inexperienced and distorted. That is why they need the counsel and teaching of the wisdom of God. They must be teachable to grow.Older spiritually matured Christians more easily give testimony of their real experiences with Christ. Why? Because they've learned to be honest with God, hold nothing back from their heart--good and bad. As a result of learning this practice of surrendered helplessness to the faithfulness of God, their weaknesses have become strengths. Their conversations have become more about the discoveries about the goodness of God, more than our younger brethren.
Young Christians have much blindness in perceiving truth from deception, truth verses feelings and opinions. Only pride--the chief sin--will prevent them from admitting wrong, abandoning the world, and making Jesus complete Lord of their life.
But what person is going to admit to wrong they cannot see is wrong; unless their eyes are opened by the Spirit using the Word of God. Opened eyes have increased vision the more they cleanse their heart and submit to Christ's guidance for their life.
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It is true going to church may catch some insights to right and wrong, but what person can exist and remain strong on one or two meals a week?
Whether you are a new believer or a matured faith-hardened saint, we will always have poor vision about some things we think. We have difficulty differentiating the difference between opinion and truth. So learning the Scriptures is not only necessary to seeing how God sees, it will help avoid many traps and defeats.
The Holy Spirit lives in us to show us what is true, what is right, what is selfless, what is obedience. He is the Revealer, the Light. By shining Light upon us we see the true Way as well as the wrong we might choose to take or the one already taken.
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Overview of chapters 6-8
Chapter 6 speaks of sinChapter 7 speaks of the lawChapter 8 speaks about the SpiritChapters 6 & 7 tell us the problemChapter 8 tells us the cure
Chapter 8: First always remember: we are no longer under condemnation!
BUT, THE APOSTLE PAUL LEADS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT'S HELP TO LIVE PLEASING GOD.
We are not saved from hell as we are saved to become transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
We are saved for God's work and our cooperation to His plan of transforming us to the plan laid out for us. The focus of change is not our circumstances, it is our soul.
He who will accomplish the will of God among men
must first become passionately committed
to the promise of Christ working in us.
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
The removal of condemnation is not to leave us to continue to practice sinning or to remain a self-centered people. The penalty removed ushers in the Way of change.
The Holy Spirit, abiding within us, reveals the Standard and the know-how to becoming like Him. The more we examine the Standard, the more we replicate the Standard through us.
There is no easy formula for every person. But the Holy Spirit deals with each of us differently. He shows each of us what we need to know.
He may show one person a verse of Scripture which changed his life, but if shown to another man, it may not measure the effectiveness as the first. The Scripture is always true and right. But specific personal scripture are given at right moments to help us with our struggles.
It is the Spirit's choosing as to what Light He will direct upon a particular truth we need at the moment. When we respond to truths given, more will be added in the times ahead.
So when we fail or in need, stop and listen to what the Spirit is saying to your conscience and heart. Take the scripture message to heart. Believe. Walk. Be faithful.
Note that Light is gradual. Over a lifetime, a number of Truth insights are given that lead us through growth. The inspiration, the new perspective, each motivate us trust the Lord and follow His directives. Over time, obedience in the small matters build to understand the bigger truths to solve the bigger problems.
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