Our life in Christ Jesus began the moment we believed.
God saved us, counting us holy because of the blood of Jesus. In that moment, we were regenerated, born again by the Holy Spirit and made new creatures created in Christ Jesus. Our old man of the flesh died and our new man was created. Our new man walks in the “Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus.”
1Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, 2because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Ro 8:1-2 HCSB
With the therefore, Paul refers us to the first seven chapters of his letter to the Romans.
He had written, the law is holy (Ro 7:12). Yet, no one could perfectly obey the law of the old covenant. They served in the flesh. “The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so.Thus, they always felt guilty. For, the sacrifices of the old covenant could not clear their conscience (Heb 9:9). Now, Paul shows the contrast. In Christ Jesus, the wages of our sin have been paid and we no longer walk in the flesh. Rather, we walk in the Spirit of Christ.
We are not sinless and we fall into sin, but Christ paid the price. Now, we are to put down the urges of the flesh and follow Jesus by walking in the Spirit. That’s sanctification, our walk according to the Spirit. We grow in this walk as we continue to grow up into Christ.
3What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, 4in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11And 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.
12So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ” 16The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Ro 8:3-17 HCSB
Paul conveyed a lot in those few words. He explained the law was limited by the flesh. Flesh sinned. God saved us by sending His Son in the flesh as a sin offering. “In order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us.”
In Romans 3:21-26, Paul showed how God declared us righteous and holy by His new covenant justice by that sin offering.
In Romans 6; Paul shows spiritually, we died to the flesh and rose in the Spirit.
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? 3Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him , that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; 7for he that hath died is justified from sin.
8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; 9knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. 10For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Ro 6:1-11 ASV Cf: Ro 5:15-21; Ro 7:4-6
Now, we can obey God, walking according to the Spirit. ”6For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Ro 8:6-8). Cf: 1 Peter 1:1-2
We are new creatures created in Christ. “8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:8-10 KJV).
Our bodies are the temple of God. “16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor 3:16-17 KJV).
Next, Paul sums up our life in Christ. In his summation, he shows the work of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit in our lives.
9You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11And 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. Ro 8:9-11 HCSB Cf: Jn 14:23; 2 Cor 13:14; Eph 2:18; 1 Peter 1:2
Verse 11 has been explained in a number of ways. My choice is from Barnes.
The body refers to that of which the apostle had said so much in the previous chapters – the flesh, the man before conversion. It is subject to corrupt passions and desires, and may be said thus to be dead, as it has none of the elements of spiritual life. It is under the reign of sin and death. The word μέν men, indeed, or truly, has been omitted in our translation, and the omission has obscured the sense. The expression is an admission of the apostle, or a summary statement of what had before been shown. “It is to be admitted, indeed, or it is true, that the unrenewed nature, the man before conversion, under the influence of the flesh, is spiritually dead. Sin has its seat in the fleshly appetites; and the whole body may be admitted thus to be dead or corrupt.” Barnes
Now, Paul puts life in Christ Jesus in perspective of eternity
12So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ” 16The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it — in the hope 21that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see,be we eagerly wait for it with patience.
26In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us, with unspoken groanings. 27And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
If God is for us, who is against us?
31What then are we to say about these things?
- If God is for us, who is against us?
- 32He did not even spare His own Son
- but offered Him up for us all;
- how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
- 33Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?
- God is the One who justifies.
- 34Who is the one who condemns?
- Christ Jesus is the One who died,
- but even more, has been raised;
- He also is at the right hand of God
- and intercedes for us.
- 35Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
- Can affliction or anguish or persecution
- or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
- 36As it is written:
- Because of You
- we are being put to death all day long;
- we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
- 37No, in all these things we are more than victorious
- through Him who loved us.
- 38For I am persuaded that not even death or life,
- angels or rulers,
- things present or things to come,cl hostile powers,
- 39height or depth, or any other created thing
- will have the power to separate us
- from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!