Rom 8:1-9 | Family | STEP | No condemnation ; from God. Who walk ; live habitually. Not after the flesh ; not as corrupt nature prompts, seeking supremely earthly good and selfish gratification. After the Spirit ; as the Holy Spirit directs, regarding principally God, Christ, heaven, and spiritual, eternal things.

Romans 8:1-9

No condemnation; from God.

Who walk; live habitually.

Not after the flesh; not as corrupt nature prompts, seeking supremely earthly good and selfish gratification.

After the Spirit; as the Holy Spirit directs, regarding principally God, Christ, heaven, and spiritual, eternal things. The law of the Spirit of life; that new direction of the soul which is given by the Holy Ghost through faith in Christ.

Made me free; delivered me from the condemning power of the divine law, and the reigning power of sin and death. This is that deliverance for which the apostle expresses his earnest longing in chap Ro 7:24. We are not to understand that it takes place instantly and perfectly, so that the experience described in the latter part of the seventh chapter wholly ceases, and that of the present chapter becomes absolute and uninterrupted. Rather do the two experiences run parallel with each other in a measure, yet so that the latter continually prevails more and more, as the Christian becomes more and more spiritual in his character. What the law could not do; it could not deliver those who had broken it from condemnation and ruin. It could neither lead them to obey it, nor to repent of having broken it; nor could it lessen their disposition to violate it, notwithstanding its promises and threatenings. It could make no atonement for sin, and could not save from it.

It was weak through the flesh; through man's depravity and transgression.

In the likeness of sinful flesh; in human nature.

For sin; to die on account of it, the just for the unjust.

Condemned sin in the flesh; destroyed its power over those who trust in Christ, by showing, through his atonement, the evil nature of sin, the guilt of those who commit it, the excellence of the law which it violates, the anger of God against it; and so opening a way in which God could be just, and the justifier of all that believe in Jesus; and in addition to all this, procuring for them the grace of the Holy Spirit to help them to believe on Christ, and through their union with him, to render to the law a true spiritual obedience; thus delivering them from both the condemnation and the reigning power of sin, neither of which things the law could do. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us; that we might be brought into that state of true righteousness which the law requires. The apostle, as the context shows, has immediate reference to deliverance from the reigning power of sin in the soul, but this can never be accomplished without deliverance also from its condemning power. The proper evidence of being interested in Christ, and entitled to the blessings of his salvation, is a disposition to regard the things which the Holy Spirit has revealed, and to follow his directions. After the flesh; fleshly in their character.

Do mind the things of the flesh; devote themselves to fleshly objects. Their outward conduct flows from their inward character, as a stream from a fountain. "The flesh" is to be taken here, as in Ga 5:19-21, and often elsewhere, in a wide sense. It includes all the earthly and corrupt passions, appetites, and desires which rule in the natural heart.

They that are after the Spirit; they in whom the Holy Spirit habitually dwells, making them spiritual in their character.

Mind--the things of the Spirit; yield themselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and thus devote themselves supremely to the spiritual objects which he reveals. To be carnally minded; the same as to mind the things of the flesh, as verse Ro 8:5. So, to be spiritually minded, is the same as to mind the things of the Spirit.

Is death; spiritual death, and if continued will issue in eternal death.

Is life and peace; spiritual life, manifesting itself in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and all those dispositions and habits which promote the glory of God and the good of men. Is enmity against God; opposed to his character and will. If it were not, it would love and obey him.

Not subject to the law of God; it does not yield obedience, but acts in opposition to what he requires.

Neither indeed can be; the two things are incompatible, contrary the one to the other; and the one should be renounced, that the other may be followed. They that are in the flesh; in a fleshly state; the same as "they that are after the flesh," as verse Ro 8:4.

Cannot please God; because a fleshly state is contrary to that spiritual state which God requires. For this reason they should no longer continue their wicked and dangerous course, but should turn from it and live. As those who seek their chief good in earthly things cannot please God, and so long as they continue this course show that they are at enmity with him, they ought without delay to renounce it, become his cordial friends, and show this by believing on his Son, and obeying his commands. If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you; the Holy Spirit, producing and leading you to manifest the fruits of the Spirit. Ga 5:22-24.

The Spirit of Christ; the Holy Spirit, producing in him in some measure a likeness to Christ, and leading him earnestly to desire that it may be perfected.

He is none of his; he is not interested in the blessings of His salvation.