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Many a time, based on Romans 8:1, Christians like to quote “No condemnation” for all their sins. They believe, that whatever sins they committed and are committing, Jesus paid for it all. That means, they believe Jesus has forgiven believers past, present, and forever with a sinner’s prayer.
QUESTIONS:-
– Is that what Romans 8:1 is saying?
– What exactly Apostle Paul is talking about in Romans 8?
– Shall Christians be under condemnation if they are living in sins?
– What is the obligation of believers, based on Romans 8:12?
– What is the meaning of “will die”? Is that Spiritual dead or bodily dead? (Rom 8:12-13)
– What does it mean “Those who are in Christ Jesus”? (Rom 8:12-13)
PARTIAL QUOTING ON ROMANS 8:1
Ironically, most of the Bible translations do not end at “No condemnation” in Romans 8:1. In actual fact, Apostle Paul continues to say in verse 1, by saying “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”.
Please look at the scripture translations on NKJV, KJV, AMPC, and YLT below.
| (NKJV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1) |
| (KJV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:1) |
| (AMPC) 1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. (Rom 8:1) |
| (YLT) 1 There is, then, now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; (Rom 8:1) |
| (NIV) 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:1) |
Well, some might say that both NIV nor NTL’s translation does not have the second portion of “who walk not according to the Spirit”. And they further highlight and believe both NIV and NTL are having the right translation from Greek.
In light of this, let’s continue reading Romans 8:5-15
| (NIV) 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. |
| 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. |
| 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:5-15) |
LET”S EXAMINE THE MEANING BY VERSE BY VERSE EXPLANATIONS
Let’s recap Romans 8:5-15 with simplified pointers using NIV. (Using NIV just in case people are saying NIV closer to the Greek):-
– Those who live in flesh vs. those who live in the Spirit (verse. 5)- The mind governed by the flesh is death. (verse. 6).
# What does it mean by “Death” here?
# Paul is comparing and contrasting those believers who are living under the flesh or under the Spirit in verse. 6
# He is not talking about bodily death. Rather he is talking about Spiritual death in verse. 6
– The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God’s law. And those who live in the flesh cannot please God (verses. 7-8)
# Contrast to some believers’ beliefs. Christians do live in God’s law. Christians do have the so-called “Police” to govern them.
# Contrast some of the preachers say that “Law” is “Behaviour modification”. [We shall explain and discuss separately what God’s law is separate.]
– Here is the problem with the verse. 9.
# However, a lot of people like to jump to vs. 9 by saying:-
“You see, verse 9 is saying Christians are not in the realm of fresh. Believers are already in the realm of the Spirit”
# Appearantly, the answer is No. That is partial bible reading.
Verse. 9 is saying “If”. “If… indeed”… Paul doesn’t say “Certainly”
– Likewise for verse 10. There is a condition… “If Christ is in you”.
# It further says “the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” It means by not living in the fresh is righteousness.
– Again, verse 11 is saying “IF”.
# “If the Spirit is in those believers, He who raised Jesus from the bodily dead will give life to Christians’ mortal bodies (provided the Spirit is in them.)
– Verse 12-13, is saying:-
# that believers’ obligation is to live under the leading of the Spirit and not by the flesh.
# should the Christians live under the flesh, they will die (Spiritually).
# Importantly, Paul is referring to the Spiritual dead here. He is not referring to bodily death. Everyone, Christian or non-Christian will eventually die. It will be reluctant if Paul is talking able bodily dead since everyone will be dying one day.
# Paul further says in verse 13 that believers will live “If” believers will live under the leading of the Spirit. By living under the flesh, believers will die Spiritually. This is what Paul is saying.
– Verse 14-15 is the most highlighted in Romans 8
Again, Christians are claiming to be children of God. They are proclaiming that they are no longer slaves that fear again. They are being adopted with sonships. They can cry out “Abba Father”
# No. This is half quoting on verse 14-15. That is not Apostle Paul’s teaching.
# Vs. 14 begin with “FOR THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT”. A lot of believers and preachers like to omit this phrase. This is a conditional phrase.
# Which means if believers are living NOT under the Spirit but under the flesh, they are not children of God.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it is good to read the bible book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse then paraphrase a verse or half a verse from the bible. In a nutshell, if a believer is living under the flesh, “Once saved, always saved” might not hold water or be biblical to him. [We shall discuss “Once saved, always saved” separately.] And that, Christians are having two identities:-
– Old self
– New self
Therefore, believers are supposed to live under the “newest life/ self”. Obviously, Romans 8:1 is saying only those believers who are walking in the Spirit are not being condemned. Those Christians who continue to walk in the flesh are falling into condemnation.
Notice, that all translations of verse 1 say “For those who are in Christ Jesus.” The true meaning of “In Christ Jesus” is that it is referring to those who live a life led by the Spirit. Should a believer be living by the flesh, he is not living “In Christ Jesus.”
Last but not least, the root cause of condemnation, based on Romans 8 is those believers who live under the flesh or living under sins
Hence, the root cause for believers being condemned is not under “stressed” as some of the sermons highlighted.
READ:-
WILL THE WRATH OF GOD AND HIS PUNISHMENT FALL ON CHRISTIANS?
END TIMES:- THE BOOK OF LIFE OPENS
