Set free!
Romans 8:1-8
Scripture (Romans 8:1-8 ESV): "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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, he condemned sin in the flesh, 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. 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
Devotion:
When I die, the one song I want sung at my funeral is Horatio Spafford’s “It is well with my soul”. It never fails to bring a tear to my eye when verse 3 rolls along:
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
These are the words of a man who has understood the truth of Romans 8. After spending quite some time on the law and how the law condemns us, holds up a mirror to show us our need for Christ and thinking about the daily wrestle a Christian has, Paul finally arrives at the core of the gospel. This passage feels like a deep breath of fresh air.
Here, Paul declares a truth that feels like dawn after a long, dark night: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." This is a permanent reality for everyone who believes. This is not something that anyone can snatch away. This is not something even our own sin can undo. Once saved, always saved. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Why is this so? Paul explains: The law, as holy and good as it is, couldn't save us because our "flesh" (our sinful nature) made it impossible for us to fully comply. The whole last chapter of Romans discussed this at length - even when we want to do what is good, but we just can’t seem to do it! But God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, did something extraordinary. He sent Jesus, His Son, to live a fully human life without sinning. Jesus came to fulfill the law's righteous demands on our behalf. Jesus's breaks the power of sin and death that held us captive as people under the law. In doing so Jesus fulfils the requirements of the law on our behalf and when we believe in him his righteousness is given to us.
This radical intervention by God changes the way we live. We're no longer driven by our sinful nature ("the flesh") but guided by the Spirit. This changes our very being. We don’t just follow the rules because they are the rules, rather living "according to the Spirit" means our desires, decisions, and directions in life are changed so that they align with the God’s will. This is a totally new way of living. The old fleshy way of living is no longer appropriate, not just because it is sinful, but because it goes against the new nature a believer has. What parts of your life are still fleshy? Does this line up with who Jesus has made you to be? In light of the fact that your sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and you bear it no more, you get to live a life that sings “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul”.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Thank You for setting me free from the law of sin and death through Your Son's sacrifice. Help me to live each day in the power of the Spirit, setting my mind on things above and not on earthly desires. May my life be a testament to Your grace, demonstrating the peace and life found only in walking according to Your Spirit. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge for the Day:
Today, take a few moments to reflect on what it means to set your mind on the Spirit. Identify one area of your life where you've been living according to the flesh, and consciously decide to invite the Holy Spirit into that area. Ask for guidance, strength, and a shift in perspective. Whether it's a habit, an attitude, or a relationship, commit to approaching it in a way that seeks life and peace through the Spirit's leading.