“There is therefore now no condemnation” are comforting words used by Paul to start the 8th chapter of the epistle to the Roman’s…
They are comforting. Now there is no condemnation. There is no condemning of us any more. But hold on there is a catch the no condemnation is only for those who are in Christ Jesus…
Ok so we are all ok then right? Because we are obviously in Christ Jesus… But if we set our minds on fleshly things and seek after our carnal pleasures then we are pleasing the flesh and living in the flesh and are not in the Spirit, and therefore not in Christ Jesus…
Paul continues, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
If we are in the flesh then we can not please God and therefore are condemned by our sins. If our mind is set on the Spirit we will have life and peace, but otherwise we have death. But are we not constantly living in the flesh? We have to fight ourselves daily to live in the realm of God and not go after our own desires and needs. We are constantly fighting with the body to get our way and to fight for our promotion and the needs we want met. We continue in the community we are a part of so that we get our 15 seconds of fame, and glory, so the mission we do as a body will make us have some kick backs…
All of us our sinners and constantly living in our flesh and therefore condemned.
Thankfully though this chapter to the Roman’s is not the end of the letter, but the climax to the need for a savior and what He has done for us. He makes us all saints, and therefore we are in Christ Jesus. So fight your flesh, but know that the battle has already been won!
aSacredRebel 