Romans 8:1-4 – WHAT A VICTORY!
Have you ever noticed that people in Christian Leadership sometimes seem as flawed as you are? We have seen noted Christian leaders fail morally and Spiritually! Even pastors and missionaries whom you respect will disappoint you from time to time and prove to you that they are not sinless. And, sorry to say, if I haven’t already proved that I am not sinless, I probably will sometime.
You too will struggle with sin in your life. David did, Moses did, Peter did, and Paul did. They were all believers and they all struggled. But they were all victorious in the end!
Why do we, as Christians, still struggle with sin? It is really quite simple. Although we have been redeemed and declared righteous, our bodies have not been. There is still the old self living in me along with my new self. My new self wants to do what is right because I am a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17
My old self wants me to practice the old things I preferred to do in the past such as lying, losing my temper, using bad language, not forgiving, holding a grudge, being lazy, thinking of, and sometimes actually doing immoral things. Paul sums this up in Romans 7:18-21.
However there is good news for those who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Although we won’t be sinless until God gives us resurrection bodies, we can and should have victory over sin in this life.
I believe the great theme of the Book of Romans is God’s Righteousness, and how we, as unrighteous sinners, can become righteous in God’s eyes. Romans 1:16-17
When we say God is righteous, we mean God is always right. He has the right thoughts, the right actions, the right motives. As God, He is without sin.
Good news! The Book of Romans not only tells you how to be declared righteous, and thus have forgiveness and eternal life. It does not just tell us the Vocabulary of Righteousness, but also the Victory of Righteousness. That is, it tells me how my new self in Christ can defeat my old self which is in my flesh, or body. This is the theme of Romans chapters 6-8.
I believe that these three chapters are summed up in Romans 8:1-4
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…
- I like promises especially when they are kept. Dottie promised to marry me and kept her promise.
- Amazon promises to send me packages all the time after I pay for them. When they have not been able to keep their promise, they have refunded my money.
- Here God is reminding us, that if we have been truly born-again or declared righteous, we need not fear condemnation. Romans 8:31-34
- That’s a great promise! However, it does not mean I can live anyway I want. I am in Christ Jesus! I should act like it. 1 John 2:1-5
- If one is truly saved. he or she need not fear condemnation but should also remember that we will answer to our Lord Jesus for our behavior. 2 Corinthians 5:10
THE PRINCIPLE – Vs. 2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
- The law in this verse refers to a principle. “What goes up must come down.”
- The principle of sin and death started in the Garden of Eden and has continued ever since. Genesis 2:17, 3:17-20, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23
- The Christian has life in Christ Jesus. The moment a person is declared righteous by faith, the Holy Spirit does His work. Romans 8:9-14
- Although I can sin, I am no longer obligated.
THE POWER – Vs. 3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
- Now we are talking about Old Testament law.
- When you have law obedience is required. In our weak, sinful bodies we do not have the ability to obey.
- Jesus did what none of us can do. He led a sinless life in a human body. That is why he could justify us through his shed blood.
- When he condemned sin in the flesh, He conquered it.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
THE PURPOSE – Vs. 4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- We have the victory in Jesus!
- Now we have the power to say “No” to sin.
- Now we may be filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit.
- And because we love our Lord Jesus, we should seek the Holy Spirit’s filling and be obedient to His leading. Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:14
- Remember to be filled with the Holy Spirit also requires that we be filled with God’s Word. Colossians 3:16
