When you live under the Law, there is fear. Fear if you screw up too much, it might cost your salvation and eternal life. You never know if you are saved and are regularly stressed out by how many good works are enough for you. Salvation is uncertain.
But that’s not true in Christ. In him, he fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law. Therefore our sin is not held against us. We are free. And we are to use our freedom to love and please God without the fear of death and condemnation.
Compare the two lives:
| Sinful Nature | Life in the Spirit |
|---|---|
| Condemnation (v.1, implied) | No condemnation (v.1) |
| Law of sin and death (v.2) | Law of Spirit of life (v.2) |
| Powerless through flesh (v.3) | Righteousness fulfilled (v.4) |
| Live according to flesh (v.5) | Live according to Spirit (v.5) |
| Mind set on flesh (v.6) | Mind set on Spirit (v.6) |
| Flesh leads to death (v.6, 13) | Spirit leads to life and peace (v.6, 13) |
| Hostile to God (v.7) | Indwelt by the Spirit (v.9) |
| Cannot submit to God (v.7) | Belong to Christ (v.9) |
| Cannot please God (v.8) | Spirit gives life (v.10–11) |
| Body dead because of sin (v.10) | Righteousness gives life (v.10) |
| Live by flesh = die (v.13) | Kill sin = live (v.13) |
| Spirit of slavery (v.15) | Spirit of adoption (v.15) |
| Fear (v.15) | Cry “Abba, Father” (v.15) |
| No assurance (implied) | Children of God (v.16) |
| Suffer without hope (implied) | Heirs with Christ (v.17) |
| Futility and decay (v.20–21) | Glorious freedom (v.21) |
| Groaning under burden (v.22) | Hope for redemption (v.23–25) |
| Weak in prayer (implied) | Spirit intercedes (v.26–27) |
| Subject to death and accusation (v.34) | Justified and loved (v.30–34) |
| Possible separation (implied) | Nothing separates from love (v.38–39) |
It’s a drastically different life. We are no longer joined and bound to the life of sin and death. Death is dead. We are now alive in Christ.
No condemnation. No fear of death.
Grace. Love. And the Gift of Righteousness where we now are led to Christ.
Romans 8
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Heirs with Christ
12 So then, brothers,[e] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[f] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Future Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[h] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.