Romans 8:1—“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Three things weigh heavily on the human soul and make life miserable: sin, condemnation, and affliction. These are universal realities, and no one escapes their grip entirely. Job observed this truth when he said, “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Life is short and often full of hardship. Job described it as “months of vanity and wearisome nights” (Job 7:3) and concluded that humanity is “of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).
Even ancient philosophers, who lacked the revelation of God’s Word, reflected deeply on the misery of human existence. They saw the repetitive cycle of eating, drinking, sleeping, and striving as burdensome to the soul. They recognized the vanity of pursuing honor, pleasure, and possessions, noting that these pursuits often brought more vexation than satisfaction. Yet, despite their insights, they failed to identify the root cause of all misery—sin—and its ultimate consequence—condemnation.
The Bible reveals what human wisdom could not: the source of all suffering is humanity’s rebellion against God, our walking according to the flesh rather than the Spirit. From this disobedience springs every calamity, not only upon humans but upon all creation, which has been subjected to futility (Romans 8:20). The curse pronounced on Adam in Genesis 3:17—“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life”—reminds us that sin’s consequences extend far beyond the individual. The ground itself bears the weight of sin, and humanity, once immortal, now faces death and returns to dust.
But the miseries of this life are merely a foretaste of the ultimate punishment for sin: eternal condemnation. The temporary troubles we experience here—poverty, sickness, loss—are but shadows of the infinite wrath awaiting those who live according to the flesh. Romans 8:13 warns, “If you live according to the flesh, you will die.” This death is not merely physical but eternal—a separation from God that is described as “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Yet here is the good news: the gospel offers a remedy for sin, condemnation, and affliction. Jesus Christ came to take away sin and its consequences. His very name, “Jesus,” means “the Lord saves,” for He came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Through Him, the curse of the law is removed, and the condemnation that once hung over us is replaced with the declaration: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Christ accomplished this through His blood and His Spirit. His blood cleanses us from the guilt of sin, and His Spirit purifies us from sin’s power. Even though afflictions remain in this life, their sting is removed. Death itself, though still present, has lost its sting through Christ’s victory (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Now, instead of being enemies, afflictions become servants, working together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28).
This deliverance is not yet complete. Sin remains in us, but it no longer reigns. Wrath may flare up because of sin, but it cannot consume us. Afflictions may come, but they are transformed into opportunities for growth and instruction. Christ has reserved the full and final deliverance for another day—the day of redemption—when all sin, wrath, and misery will be swallowed up by life and immortality (Romans 8:23).
This is the essence of the gospel and the heart of Romans 8. It offers a threefold comfort that addresses humanity’s threefold misery: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is the message that brings hope to condemned sinners who feel the weight of guilt and cry out, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). It is the assurance that sin and death have been defeated and that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us through the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us.
For those who groan under the weight of sin, like Paul in Romans 7:24—“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”—This message is a balm for the soul. It assures us that though we wrestle with sin, we are no longer condemned. Though we suffer affliction, we have the hope of glory to sustain us. And though we face trials, the Spirit helps us in our weakness and works all things for our good.
Let me speak plainly to you, dear friends. Many of you are burdened by the troubles of this life—poverty, sickness, rejection, and loss. You cry out, “Who will show us any good?” (Psalm 4:6). Others feel the deeper weight of condemnation, knowing that the law has pronounced judgment against them. You cry out, “What shall I do to be saved?” But there is yet a greater lament: the groaning of a soul that has been delivered from condemnation but still wrestles with the presence of sin. If you are in Christ, you may cry with Paul, “Who shall deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24).
The answer to all these cries is found in Jesus Christ. He is the remedy for sin, the deliverer from condemnation, and the one who transforms affliction into blessing. He offers a complete salvation—freedom from the guilt, power, and presence of sin—and a hope that no trial can shake. If you would embrace Him by faith, all your complaints and lamentations would be swallowed up in the triumph of His grace.
This verse, Romans 8:1, reveals three profound truths about the Christian life: the great privilege, the true nature, and the distinguishing property of a believer. The privilege is incomparable: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The nature is divine: a Christian is united to Christ by faith, living in Him and through Him. And the distinguishing property is noble: a believer does not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
These three truths are inseparable. The privilege of no condemnation belongs only to those who are in Christ. Those who are in Christ live a transformed life, walking according to the Spirit. And this new life is the evidence of their union with Christ and the assurance of their privilege.
If you would truly understand the privilege of being a Christian, you must first grasp the reality of your natural condition. By nature, we are all outside of Christ, growing wild like a degenerate vine. We bring forth fruit, but it is bitter or empty—fruit that is either harmful or self-serving. Even the best of human efforts, apart from Christ, are like apples of Sodom: beautiful on the outside but turning to ashes when touched. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), yet we convince ourselves that we are good.
But hear this: you cannot inherit the kingdom of God in your natural state. You must be born again, implanted into Christ, and made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the work of God’s grace, and it is offered freely to all who will come to Christ in faith.
So I urge you today: consider the sentence of condemnation that hangs over you apart from Christ. Understand the privilege of being delivered from that sentence and the price that was paid for your redemption. Jesus Christ gave Himself for you, bearing the curse of the law so that you might be set free. If you are in Him, you are no longer your own; you have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). Live, then, as one who is redeemed—walking not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, and rejoicing in the hope of glory.
For those who have not yet come to Christ, I plead with you: do not ignore the reality of sin, condemnation, and eternity. Do not trade your soul for the fleeting pleasures of this world. Seek first the kingdom of God, and all other things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Flee from the wrath to come, and embrace the grace and salvation offered in Jesus Christ. Only in Him will you find the remedy for sin, the freedom from condemnation, and the hope that transforms even the darkest afflictions into light.
Amen.
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