Sanctification (Chap-8)
If the letter to Romans is the summary of the entire NT, (chap.8) is supposed to be the summary of entire letter to Romans. Some of the New Testament’s most important teaching on the Holy Spirit is found in (Rom.8). The Spirit is mentioned almost 21-times in the first 30 verses. The chapter gives a vivid picture of giving assurance of our relationship with the Lord, wonderful gift in the Holy Spirit. The chapter gives enough armour not to live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
In this surpassing chapter the several streams of the preceding arguments meet and flow in one “river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,” until it seems to lose itself in the ocean of a blissful eternity (JFB commentary). This chapter is the climax of Sanctification which the apostle was dealing right from (chap.6-8).
Paul starts with “therefore there is now” which indicates that Paul was continuing the thought which he had explained in (chap.7). Of course chapters and verses were developed much later by Stephen Langton, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in 1227 AD.
Not condemned but justified freely: (8:1-4)
Not condemned: (8:1): The Jew and Gentile see himself in the unavailing struggles, with no provision for pardon and no power to sanctify stands before the judge, the conviction brought them to the brink of despair and being at the point of giving up all hope, the judge says: you are justified, because there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. What a wonderful relief. The heartbeat has almost missed once. The previous chapter closed with deep distress and penitence but this chapter opens the account with a joyful note. Those who are in Christ have transition:
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- From the Darkness to light.
- From the Condemnation to pardon to dispensation (freedom).
- From the influence of sin to the sanctification grace.
- From the carnal and flesh desires to walking after the Spirit.
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- The law cannot claim: (8:2): The apostle says: “through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit has set me free.” The Spirit of life is nothing but the Holy Spirit which Paul speaks of 18-times in this chapter. He was present before the foundation of this world. When the believer delivered from the dominion of sin through his union with Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us the life in contrast to the principle of sin which gives death. The same Holy Spirit gives us the power to live a Christian life by granting us the immunity from the power of law of sin and death. In other words we have been moved into a different sphere of life. The law cannot claim us as long as we keep an allegiance with Christ. The process of sanctification is gradual growing from strength to strength.
- The law is powerless and lost control: (8:3-4): The law could not pardon us, nor sanctify us nor it could dispense with its own requisitions. Had there been perfect obedience, there would be no condemnation. The law was rendered weak, inefficient to undo this work of the flesh, and could not bring the sinner into a state of pardon and acceptance with God. When the law could not purchase pardon for the sinner, God at the right time sent His own Son Jesus Christ into this world, in whom the fullness of the Godhead rests. He came, took the likeness of sinful flesh, that is the human body like ours and gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin and condemned sin in the flesh. He was not sent in sinful flesh but in the likeness of it. His human nature was protected and preserved from the indwelling principle of sin that has plagued all other human beings since Adam (Lk.1:35). The Lord Jesus came to annihilate the power of sin, guilt in the soul of a believer. This He did so that the righteous requirements of the law i.e. the holiness could be fully met so that a believer do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. This provision was made solely by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting His free gift of salvation and living under the control of the Holy Spirit.
While it is true that those who are in Christ should not and do not consistently walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, this is not a condition for their status of no condemnation. Our position in Jesus Christ is the reason for our standing of no condemnation.
Life in the Spirit: (8:5-11)
Freedom from death: (8:5-8):
Apostle Paul gives a clear contrast of those who are lead by flesh and those who are lead by the Spirit.
Those who are led by the flesh have their minds set on natural desires.
- An unbeliever cares only for his sinful interests and has no regard for God.
- For such a person, everything leads to death in all its forms both physical and spiritual.
- Their minds are hostile to God, they do not submit to God’s laws and cannot live. Therefore they cannot please God. They are self-pleasing persons.
- They are void of spiritual life and ability. He may be moral or religious but if he lacks his life will be on the way to death.
- These days we find many churches are filled with such moral and religious Christians. Their lives too are on the path to hell unless they accept the free gift of Salvation.