All Roads Lead to Romans
February 8, 2015 :: Romans 8:1-4
We’re just about half way through the book of Romans. There are 16 chapters in Romans, so when we finish this chapter, we’ll have done exactly half of the chapters.
But most people consider Romans 8 to be the pinnacle of Romans. The high point. Some (including myself) like to call it “The Great Eight.” Because of the amazing truth that this chapter contains in such memorable phrases and sentences and arguments.
Remember when we started this series, and I said that all roads lead to Romans and then started quoting verses and let you finish them? A whole bunch of those very familiar, very precious verses were from Romans chapter 8. It’s just that awesome.
I think we’ll be camping here for at least a month. I see at least 4 sermons on Romans 8, and it could turn into more. I promise not to stay here for a year or years, but that would actually be easy to do.
Today, I just want us to get through the first 4 verses.
And really, the biggest thing I want to get across is that verse that we’re memorizing now, the first verse, Romans chapter 8, verse 1.
Say it with me.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
No condemnation.
No condemnation. If you get any thing out of today’s message, if you take anything home with you this afternoon, I want it to be that.
No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Now, verse 1 is just about as surprising as it is precious.
If you remember, last time we were in Romans together, we were reading at the end of chapter 7 about the war within Christians, an ongoing battle with indwelling sin. A battle that sometimes we lose though we know that eventually Jesus will finally rescue us from this body of death.
But Christians find that even though we are free from sin and free from the law, that there is this “other law” at work in us. Chapter 7 called it the law of sin. And we find that when we try to go it alone in the Christian life that the law of sin can actually take us captive again. Even though our truest self belongs to God and loves God and His law.
The last chapter ended with verse 25, “So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature (the flesh) a slave to the law of sin.”
That’s a pretty depressing place to live, in the middle of that war within.
The battle rages.
And then Paul says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
And those of us who have been reading carefully say, “Wait, what?”
How does that “therefore” work? How does our lack of condemnation flow out of what was just said in verse 25?
And the answer is that the “therefore” stretches further back.
Not that Paul is changing the subject. He’s just making it clear what the big subject has always been and that’s justification by faith.
Paul is picking up from Romans 7:6 and really from Romans 1:1-7:6.
Paul is summing up his argument so far.
Now, I’m not going to walk you again through chapter 1 through chapter 7. I’m tempted to. It would be a good exercise.
But I’ll just say this, Paul has been arguing for the gospel of which He is not ashamed.
And it’s a gospel of grace through faith in Jesus and faith apart from the works of the law.
Does that sound familiar? That’s a radical idea. Especially for a former Pharisee!
Paul has said that “we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law” (3:28).
And that was actually the way that Abraham was justified. And that believing in this gospel leads to all kinds of blessings forever and ever: peace with God, saved from God’s wrath, joy forevermore. That’s Romans 1-5.
And then for the last two chapters, Paul has been answering questions and objections to this radical doctrine of justification by faith. Does believing this doctrine lead to more sin? And does it mean that the Mosaic law was the problem? That the law was bad.
What was the answer to all those questions. Of course not. “May genoita!”
And now Paul is summing all of that up. Seven chapters of careful argument. And he says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
Yes, there is a great battle that still rages within the hearts of true Christ-followers.
But a great victory has already been won that makes the outcome of that war predictable and, in fact, inescapable.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
I love that word “now.”
I think it means at least two things. One is that there was a time when we were condemned or headed for condemnation.
But NOW that has changed.
For those who are in Christ Jesus, everything has changed.
But I think it also means that we have that no condemnation NOW. We don’t have to wait for the end of our lives to hear the verdict, “No Condemnation.”
It’s not just something that God will say to us someday in the heavenly courtroom, but something that God pronounces over us right ... NOW.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
Before we get to applying that truth to our lives, we need to see a little bit about HOW that’s possible. Why is there now this verdict over our lives – “No Condemnation!” ? How is that possible?
Well, verses 2-4 are pretty complicated. I spent most of the day yesterday just trying to untangle them to follow Paul’s argument.
I’m going to simplify it to say this.
There is no condemnation because of the Son of God and because of the Spirit of God.
Because of the Son of God.
Because of the Spirit of God.
Now, most of chapter 8, or at least verses 5 through about 27 are about the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit is the main actor in this chapter. Most of the chapter is about the Spirit’s ministries of bringing life, adopting us into God’s family, and helping us with our weaknesses.
So, we’re going to learn a lot about the Spirit in the next few weeks. He’s going to give us assurance of our great hope.
But that no condemnation is not just about the Spirit but about the Son of God.
BECAUSE OF THE SON OF GOD.
What did He do so that we have no condemnation? V.2
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
There’s the Spirit. His power and authority here is called the law of the Spirit and it produces life and sets us free. We’ll see more about that in a second.
But notice that it’s “through Christ Jesus” that the Spirit does even that. And Paul explains it in verse 3.
“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man...”
Why is there no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?
Because Christ Jesus took our condemnation for us.
Let’s pick verse 3 apart a little.
“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature [or by the flesh]...”
Now, that sounds a lot like what we’ve been learning in the previous chapter, right?
Was the Mosaic law was a good or bad thing?
A good thing.
But could it and did it save God’s people?
No. It couldn’t and didn’t save God’s people. It didn’t justify them, and it didn’t transform them. That’s a lot of what Paul was arguing in chapter 7.
The law was weakened. Not because it was bad, but because WE ARE.
The law which required righteousness didn’t create righteousness in us because we’re sinners. The law actually increased sin!
It didn’t save. The law actually increased sin and showed the sinfulness of sin.
But it was doing its job.
The law was powerless to save and change us. But God was not. V.3 again.
“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.”
That’s John 3:16 isn’t it?
What did God do? He sent his own Son.
He didn’t send someone else’s Son.
How much easier that would have been!
And He sent Him in the likeness of sinful man or the likeness of sinful flesh.
What does that mean? That he wasn’t really a man? He wasn’t really flesh.
No. He was fully human. But without sin.
“...sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.”
That’s the Cross.
That’s what we will celebrate at the Lord’s Table here in a just few minutes.
Jesus died as a sacrifice for sins. ... V.3 again.
“And so he condemned sin in sinful man...”
I think that’s a bad translation. It should read something more like (King James or ESV), “And he [God] condemned sin in the flesh.” Meaning, in the flesh of the incarnate Son of God.
The 2011 NIV gets to this right. “And so he condemned sin in the flesh.”
God condemned sin in the flesh of His incarnate Son.
When Jesus was on the Cross dying a bloody terrible awful death, God was condemning sin in His flesh.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Why is there no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?
Because Jesus was condemned already for them.
But Paul says more. He says there was a purpose to that death that goes even beyond no condemnation. And that is that the Law would actually be fulfilled. That we would actually become holy both now in part and someday in full. Verse 4.
“ And so he condemned sin in [the flesh], in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
What did and does the Spirit do so that we have no condemnation?
He changed and changes us.
Jump back up to verse 2 and see the Spirit there.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
The law of the Spirit of life means, I think, the power and authority and rule of the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual life to God’s people.
And that “law of the Spirit life” has set me free from “the law of sin and death.”
Which, I think, is the same law as chapter 7, verse 25, “the law of sin” that still attacks the Christian and sneaks up and tries to take us over.
But Christians have something that nonChristians do not.
They have someOne that nonChristians do not.
Christians have the Spirit of God.
And His presence makes all of the difference. He has set us free.
Now, that’s not fully here yet. We’ve seen that. But He’s set us free decisively and finally, and is doing to progressively. (These 3 adverbs are taken from John Piper’s “Look at the Book” on Romans 8).
And here’s the point:
We no longer have to sin.
Because we have the Spirit.
We have the powerful personal presence of God working inside of us.
So, we are set free and there is no condemnation over us.
And more than that, He is changing us progressively as we walk with Him.
So much, in fact, that we fulfill the law.
You can’t fulfill the law by following the law.
But you can by following the Spirit. V.4 again.
“And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
Now, we’ll see more about that next week. Paul is going to tease out the difference between walking/living according to the flesh and walking/living according to the Spirit.
This is what Paul was talking about back in Romans 7:6 when he said that “we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”
Can you see how we who have the Spirit have the powerful personal presence of God at work in our lives, and that changes everything!
Because He’s changing us we are and will be no longer the same.
The theological word for that is “sanctification.”
Our justification leads to our sanctification.
Because sin was condemned in Jesus, the Holy Spirit now is changing us so that we live out the fulfillment of the law. And what is that? That’s love.
We love others now because the Spirit is at work in us.
And there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Now that we see that it comes because of the Son and the Spirit, let’s do some application of this glorious truth.
Let’s get personal.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
#1. Believe It.
Let that sentence sink into you.
Let that sentence define you.
Let that sentence be what you know to be true about you.
Put your name in it.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for [Matt Mitchell].”
I have told several people that this should become their life verse.
I don’t really believe in life verses, as if you only needed one.
But this is one that many people need to take into their heart system and make their own.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
Even though:
It feels like it.
Even though the world condemns you.
Even though Satan condemns you.
Even though your flesh condemns you.
Where it really counts, there is no condemnation.
Even though the world tells you that you are worthless or crazy or stupid or hopeless or guilty or shameful or damaged goods.
And when I say, “the world,” I mean those people around you who make you feel like this.
And that person that sinned against you. That stole from you. That hurt you. That blames you.
Even though they make you feel condemned, you are not.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
Believe it.
Believe it even though Satan and his minions tell you that you are hopeless. That you will never conquer your sins. That you will never grow in holiness.
When Satan tempts you to despair and tells you of the guilt within...
Upward you look and see Him there who made and end to all your sin.
Because the sinless Savior died, your sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon thee!
You can tell Satan that he’s right. That you are a sinner. That you deserve condemnation.
But then you tell him, that it’s all been taken care of.
Because what the law was powerless to do, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.
God condemned your sin already when He put His Son to death.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
Even though it feels like it when your own flesh tells you differently.
When you’re depressed.
When you feel defeated.
When you feel shame.
When you’ve just given in to sin once more.
Believe it then.
Preach it to your heart.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
Make it stronger.
Because there is no condemnation, it actually means the opposite.
There is commendation.
There is delight.
There is love.
There is pleasure, the pleasure of God for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Think about it!
How does God the Father feel about God the Son?
He loves Him, doesn’t He?
He delights in Him.
He takes great pleasure in His Son.
Now, where does this verse say YOU are?
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus...”
If you are in Christ Jesus, how do you think God thinks about you?
Believe it.
And #2. LIVE FROM IT.
And by this, I mean live out of it.
Make this the unshakable foundation on which you live.
Because there is no condemnation, you can live a holy life.
In fact, you will. If you are in Christ Jesus, you will live out a holy life. Not a perfect one but a holy one. Because the Spirit is at work in you.
We’re going to see that a bunch next week.
But the basic idea is that because there is no condemnation, we can live according to the Spirit, and so we should.
This is every reason to go killing sin in us.
Some people think that if there is no condemnation then we can just go on sinning because it’s all over.
But it’s because of no condemnation, that we can go putting sin to death in our own lives.
And we can live confidently, boldly, courageously.
I mean, if you already know what God thinks of you, what the verdict is going to be for your life, then you’re free to live the way you know you should right now.
If it doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks of you, the world, the devil, and even yourself–then how free are you to live?!
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”
Live like it.
Unless, of course, you are not IN Christ Jesus.
If you have not put your faith in the Lord Jesus and what He did for you on the Cross...
If you have not put yourself in His hands....
If you have not turned from your sins and trusted in Christ then you are not justified. You are not being sanctified. You won’t be walking with the Spirit.
You are condemned and you are heading for condemnation.
This promise is only good for those who are IN Christ Jesus.
If you are in Christ Jesus, you have everything to look forward to forever.
But if you are not in Christ Jesus, you have nothing to look forward to but condemnation.
If that’s you, then I urge you to come to Christ, to cling to Christ, to repent and put your faith in Christ.
Because “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!"
***
Messages in this Series
01. All Roads Lead to Romans
02. I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel
03. The Bad News
04. Hope for Holy Sexuality
05. The Even Worse News
06. The Worst News
07. Justified
08. Father Abraham
09. The Blessings of Justification
10. How Much More
11. New You
12. Slaves Of...?
13. A Life-Changing Relationship with Jesus Christ
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