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Lesson 1 of 4

No condemnation: life in the Spirit

Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition

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Study objective: Follow Paul’s argument from condemnation to life in the Spirit.

Reading: Romans 8:1–11

Romans 8:1–11 WEB

1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. 8Those who are in the flesh can’t please God. 9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 10If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Background and context

Romans was written by Paul to believers in Rome, a church he had not yet visited (1:10-13). Chapter 7 ends with the cry, “Who will deliver me?” and thanks to God through Jesus Christ (7:24-25). Chapter 8 opens with “therefore”: the answer worked out. The Spirit is mentioned far more in this chapter than anywhere else in the letter.

Observe

  • “Therefore” links back to Romans 7 (8:1).
  • The law could not do what God did by sending his Son (8:3).
  • Two ways of living are contrasted: according to the flesh and according to the Spirit (8:4-8).
  • The Spirit who raised Jesus will give life to mortal bodies (8:11).

Words, people and events to notice

Flesh
In Paul, often human life oriented away from God, not simply the body. Romans 8:5–8
Condemnation
A judicial verdict of guilt and penalty. Paul says it no longer stands for those in Christ. Romans 8:1Romans 8:34

Understand

  1. What has God done that the law could not do (8:3-4)?
  2. How does Paul contrast the mind set on the flesh and on the Spirit?
  3. What hope does 8:11 give for the body?

Connect

Reflect

  1. Do you live as someone under condemnation or freed from it?
  2. Where do you see the Spirit giving life?

Key takeaways

Editorial summary, not Scripture.

  • In Christ there is no condemnation.
  • The Spirit brings new life now and resurrection life to come.

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