No Condemnation

Ro 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We are no longer under the Law to keep it, but under grace to live holy in Christ! Paul made three statements about the Christian and the Law, all of these declare—“NO CONDEMNATION!":

The Law Cannot Claim You (v2)!

When we accepted Christ the Spirit imparted to us new life! That life being “Christ in you, the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27b). Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20—“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Now because I am “in Christ Jesus" the Spirit enables me to live free because sin and death no longer have dominion over me! We read in Hebrews 2:14-15—“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” We must walk daily in our freedom and not voluntarily put ourselves in bondage to the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The Law no longer has any jurisdiction over my life because I am dead to the Law (Romans 7:4) and free from the Law (Romans 8:2)!

The Law Cannot Condemn You (v3)!

The Law was useful in that in showed us our transgression! The Law’s purpose is given to us in Galatians 3:24-25—“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” But when Christ came He suffered condemnation for us on the Cross! Galatians 3:13 tells us—“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21—“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” The Law could not save; it could only condemn. Galatians 3:10 says—“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Christ came to do for us what no other man could do! (Romans. 5:8). He came from Heaven, took upon Him the robe of flesh and died on Calvary for all men! All this was done all according to God’s perfect will and plan (Galatians 4:4-5). In our judicial system we have a law of "double jeopardy". It states that a man cannot be tried for twice for the same crime. Since Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins and we are "in Christ", the Law cannot condemn us! Hebrews 10:12, 14 tells us—“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”

The Law Cannot Control You (v4)!

We live a holy life not in the power of the Law, but by the power of the Holy Spirit! We read in Galatians 5:24-25—“And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” The Law cannot produce holiness; It's purpose is to convict of sin. 1 Timothy 1:8-10 tells us—“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.” Hebrews 10:1 speaking of the Law says—“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to walk in obedience to God's Will! Thus the righteousness that God demands in His Law is fulfilled in us by the working of God's Spirit! Paul said in Colossians 1:29—“Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” One who tries to live godly in the power of the flesh will fail! But we, who are Spirit-led believers, MUST ALLOW the Holy Spirit to do the work of sanctifying our lives daily! (Philippians 2:13).