Jesus Christ—the New Master, and the Holy Spirit—the Empowering Aide

Bible Passage: Romans 8:1-2

I. Verse 1: “Therefore, now no condemnation (whatsoever) to those who are in Christ Jesus”

1. It is an ellipsis—the verb is intentionally omitted for a purpose
2. The author intents that the missing word(s) are supplied by the readers
3. Almost all translations have suppled “there is”
4. Thus Rom 8:1 reads “Therefore, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”
5. The purpose of an ellipsis is that the readers would quickly dwell on the nouns without wasting time on other words which could be otherwise supplied

a. An ellipsis generally has an exciting reality
b. An ellipsis conveys a general truth which is timeless in nature—it does not have a verb with tense: past, present, or future—timeless

II. Let’s look at 8:1

1. To those who normally become pessimistic after reading Romans 7, 8:1 is a big cry of victory!

a. “now”—a new age inaugurated “in Christ”

2. The first noun of this sentence is “no condemnation” or “There is no residual condemnation whatsoever left hanging over the believer who is “in Christ Jesus””

a. “no” is at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize a reality that is concise and forceful to a sinner who is now “in Christ”!
b. The word order of this verse points to the significance lying in “no condemnation”
c. Paul wants his readers to celebrate the fact that there is “no condemnation” or “no residual condemnation left hanging over them” who are now “in Christ Jesus”
d. “Condemnation” is a forensic word that conveys a judge’s evaluation of the case and sentencing the person for punishment after being convinced of all evidences
e. With the word “no condemnation,” Paul is saying that believers will not bear God’s condemning judgment because Jesus Christ has borne sin’s judgment (8:3)

i. For what was impossible for the law, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did.
ii. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh
iii. The case is closed—as far as God is concerned there is no punishment for those “in Christ”

3. Rom 5:16 “everyone in Adam inherits condemnation
4. Rom 5:18 “… through one person came condemnation to all people, so also through one righteous deed came justification of life to all people
5. “to those in Christ Jesus” (8:1b)

a. “no condemnation whatsoever” status is only to those who are “in Christ”
b. “in Christ” refers to those who are in union with Christ

i. “in Christ” is a spatial safety zone
ii. The person “in Christ” has legal protection

c. This somewhat looks like the concept of cities of refuge in the Old Testament (Num 35:28)

i. He [the guilty] must live in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest
ii. But after the death of the high priest the killer will return to the land of his property where he has a complete legal protection from his crime and at the death of the high priest closes the case forever

d. Jesus the High Priest’s death grants a complete freedom to the one who is guilty on all counts and the case is closed forever, and the guilty walks free
e. Per the guidelines of the cities of refuge, the guilty moves into the city of refuge where he finds legal safety
f. In the same way, “in Christ” is the place of protection—so, the guilty moves from “in Adam” to “in Christ”

6. “The law of the Spirit of life” (8:2)

a. A new principle that shapes a person “in Christ” has stepped in their life—i.e., the Holy Spirit
b. In other words, the Holy Spirit is now the operating power of a person who is “in Christ”
c. The Holy Spirit is the supernatural aide that liberated (set free) man from the law of sin and death, and empowers him with power and victory to please God

7. “liberated” (8:2) “set someone from being dominated or kept captive of”

III. Principles

1. We see “justification” and “sanctification” in these two verses:

a. Verse 1: no condemning verdict—our standing before God
b. Verse 2: Spirit-enabled freedom to obedience—our transformed walk

2. If a person genuinely “in Christ” he is secure and free from condemnation—eternal security
3. “No condemnation” status is grounded in Christ’s work, not personal performance
4. The Holy Spirit is God’s divine aide to those who are “in Christ”—A person turns to Christ because of the work of the Holy Spirit
5. The liberation is already done/complete, and it is not an ongoing battle
6. “No condemnation” is God’s side of the deal, but it does not make a person “in Christ” free from God dishonoring behaviors
7. In his “in Christ” journey, the Holy Spirit uses the law to please God
8. The one “in Christ” needs to learn to walk after the Holy Spirit in his journey of sanctification
9. The Spirit now gives life and power for a new walk

a. We do not obey to become secure
b. We obey because, in Christ, we already are secure

Takeaway:

Learn to live under the law of the Spirit of life