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No Condemnation (8:1-11)

Passage: Romans 8:1-11

'Therefore' links back to 7:25 and the whole argument since 5:1.

Overview

No condemnation in Christ. The Spirit frees us from sin and death and gives life. The Spirit who raised Jesus lives in believers.

Going deeper

Verses 1-4: the verdict and how God did what the law could not. Verses 5-8: two mindsets. Verses 9-11: the indwelling Spirit and future resurrection.

Key verses (KJV)

From the commentaries

1. How we come by these privileges—the privilege of justification, that there is no condemnation to us—the privilege of sanctification, that we walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh, which is no less our privilege than it is our duty. How comes it about? (1.) The law could not do it, v. 3. It could neither justify nor sanctify, neither free us from the guilt nor from the power of sin, having not the promises either of pardon or grace. The law made nothing perfect: It was weak. ...

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706-1721)

1. There is therefore now, &c.—referring to the immediately preceding context [Olshausen, Philippi, Meyer, Alford, &c.]. The subject with which the seventh chapter concludes is still under consideration. The scope of Ro 8:1-4 is to show how "the law of sin and death" is deprived of its power to bring believers again into bondage, and how the holy law of God receives in them the homage of a living obedience [Calvin, Fraser, Philippi, Meyer, Alford, &c.]. no condemnation: to them which are in Christ Jesus—As Christ, who "knew no sin," was, to all legal effects, "made sin for us," so are we, who believe in Him, to all legal effects, "made the righteousness of God in Him" (2Co 5:21); and thus, o

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871)

The happy state of those who believe in Christ, and walk under the influence of his Spirit, Rom 8:1, Rom 8:2. The design of God in sending his Son into the world was to redeem men from sin, Rom 8:3, Rom 8:4. The miserable state of the carnally minded, Rom 8:6-8. How Christ lives and works in his followers; their blessedness here, and their happiness hereafter, Rom 8:9-17. Sufferings are the common lot of all men; and from which Gentiles and Jews have the hope of being finally delivered, Rom 8:18-23. The use and importance of hope, Rom 8:24, Rom 8:25. The Spirit makes intercession for the followers of Christ, Rom 8:26, Rom 8:27. ...

Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary (1810-1826)

1. There is then, etc. After having described the contest which the godly have perpetually with their own flesh, he returns to the consolation, which was very needful for them, and which he had before mentioned; and it was this, — That though they were still beset by sin, they were yet exempt from the power of death, and from every curse, provided they lived not in the flesh but in the Spirit: for he joins together these three things, — the imperfection under which the faithful always labor, — the mercy of God in pardoning and forgiving it, —and the regeneration of the Spirit; ...

John Calvin, John Calvin's Commentaries (16th century, Calvin Translation Society, 1840s-1850s)

Verse 1. There is, therefore, now. This is connected with the closing verses of chapter 7. The apostle had there shown that the law could not effect deliverance from sin, but that such deliverance was to be traced to the gospel alone, Ro 7:23-25. It is implied here that there was condemnation under the law, and would be still, but for the intervention of the gospel. No condemnation. This does not mean that sin in believers is not to be condemned as much as anywhere, for the contrary is everywhere taught in the Scriptures; but it means, (1.) that the gospel does not pronounce condemnation like the law. Its office is to pardon; the office of the law, to condemn. The one never affords deliveran

Albert Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament (1834-1885)

Application

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