Romans 8:1-4

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

— ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭4‬‬

 

8:1 does not connect directly to 7:14-25 but to 7:6. Otherwise, Paul is saying, “I am under sin, therefore, I am not condemned.” The thoughts do roughly connect to the end of chapter 7, though, because for Paul the  future deliverance in Jesus has been brought into the present reality because of the Spirit.

We love the idea of no condemnation. This is the future verdict brought in the preset. Ch 7 is all about living life in flesh—can’t be done. Ch 8 is living in Spirit. 

V. 2 Schreiner sees both uses of “law” as Mosaic. It is either applied by the Spirit or by sin and death. In ch 7 it is the latter; here it is the former. Most scholars disagree. They think the law is metaphorical in the first case, because Paul has just said the law cannot bring life in chapter 7.

The inability of the law has nothing to do with itself, but the weakness of human flesh.

God condemned sin by sending Jesus in human flesh (he did not sin obviously, but he was identified with all things human). “In the flesh” is probably a reference to the crucifixion. NT Wright says sin was drawn into one central location, i.e., the body/flesh of Jesus, as our representative

Likeness of sinful flesh—proper doctrine will say Jesus was fully human, but did not have sin. 

V. 4. Often taken forensically, that we do not have responsibility or role to play. God did everything for us objectively. Schreiner opposes this, saying Paul envisions actual obedience of Christians. This does not happen on their own, but they must still obey. Supported by 8:4b.