There Is Therefore Now No Condemnation To Them Which Are In Christ Jesus, Who Walk Not After The Flesh, But After The Spirit - Part 1919

"For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:22-23)

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

For those who believe in Jesus by faith and are subsequently water baptized in His Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death is empowering. Because we come to understand that what the law could not do (in that it is/was weak through the flesh) God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and from sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

Why? So that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:2-5) And therefore, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus because we have been clothed in His righteousness. As a consequence, every thing we do in both word or deed is in the Name of the Lord Jesus. He has become our all in all, deserving of all the glory and honour and praise.

But the uncircumcision (those whose heart has not received Jesus as both Lord and Christ) keep the righteousness of the law, determined that their own good works and deeds are sufficient. Sadly, in so doing, these miss the point that God took it upon Himself (as a Son robed in humanity) to pay the price for our sins. Thus, because of what He did on the cross, reconciling the world unto Himself, we can be saved by His grace and mercy. Not of ourselves, but rather salvation is the free gift of God, to those who believe, and follow His commandments.

To distinguish here, Jesus' commandments are summarized in Mark 12:29-31. "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord" and we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and from His love in us, to love one another. (Deuteronomy 6:4) [Note that apostle Paul adds to these for the Gentiles in Acts 15:20, 29 and Acts 21:25 but best to leave that message for another day so that we do not digress.] Continuing,
"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13)

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes." (Romans 10:4)

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4)

Indeed, right from the beginning, God has desired a family for Himself. "Hearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings." (Isaiah 51:17)

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, [I say] at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the Law of Faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. [Is He] the God of the Jews only? [is He] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (Romans 3:21-28)

Apostle Paul wrote that we are to "be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith ..." (Philippians 3:9)

Paul further said, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)

"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law." (Galatians 3:21)

To clarify again, "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. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 2:2-8)

But for those who believe in the Lord Jesus, and His gift of salvation by faith, and desire Him with all that they do -- "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:28-38)

Stand in the offering plate.