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ROMANS 8:1 “THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT.” (KJV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (NKJV)
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NIV, NASB, ASV, ESV)
“So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (TLB)
If you have gotten this far in our mission to memorize 100 verses, you have already seen that I list each verse in several translations. I have kind of decided that the argument over which translation should be considered accurate is probably not worth fighting. That argument isn’t for this book, but if you want to discuss it, I would be pleased to spend the time telling you why I prefer the translation I do.
I do think comparing the different translations of the Bible is a worthy exercise. The study will reveal that some of the translations delete texts that are in others. You handle that fact any way you want. However, when that happens, I would strongly encourage you to look at different versions in your study of the Word to make sure you understand what the verse is trying to say. Romans 8:1 is a good example of that.
In the versions that delete the last part of Romans 8:1, if you read further you will discover that Paul’s text deeply discusses the issue that some translations have deleted in the first verse. That is why, beyond memorizing the verse that I recommend to you, we really need to read the verses around it to make sure we understand the context and meaning of what we are memorizing. (Can I get an “Amen”?)
No matter which verse you choose to memorize here, I think we can all agree with Paul that walking after the flesh is BAD and walking after the Spirit is GOOD. Verse 13 tells us that if we live after the flesh, we shall die, but if we through the Spirit kill the deeds of the body, we shall live. It is pretty clear then, that if we live after the flesh, we are condemned. That’s kind of why I like to quote the version that says all of that. Again, the other versions say that…just several verses later.
I guess I fear the danger here is that it is easy to preach that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…as if after we come into Christ Jesus and can live any way we want to live. No doubt, after we are born again we will still experience battles with our fallen nature that Jesus has rescued us from. I do not believe we have to be born again over and over again.
We will fail in our attempt to live perfect, Christ-like lives for the rest of our lives. That does not mean we have to sin every time we are tempted though. Paul tells us that Jesus won’t allow us to be tempted above what we are able to resist. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:13. Not only are we promised that our temptations are limited. But Jesus promises in every temptation that He will give us a way to escape. I’m convinced that a lot of times we ignore the escape.
The most important lesson in this verse…and in the entire chapter…is our ability to walk in the Spirit. Paul talks a lot about this in several of his epistles. Check out Galatians 5:25. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Later in verse 25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” If we have given our hearts to Jesus, we are living in the Spirit. It takes a daily effort, prayer, resisting temptation, saying no and looking for that escape for us to make that living into an active walking in the Spirit.
Yes, many of us have to deal with the spirit of condemnation. That can be something we carry over from our former life before conversion. Some of us have a lot to feel condemned about in our past. But Jesus promises us that once we give our lives to Him, “old things are passed away and all things become new.” We now live in the Spirit and have everything we need to also walk in the Spirit. That kind of life effectively deals with any feelings of condemnation and sets us free from sin and guilt.
Don’t ever give in to carrying the guilt and condemnation of your past with you into your “newness of life.” On the other hand, if after we have been saved, we sin again (notice that word, “if”) and we feel a sense of condemnation, that condemnation is there for a reason. That is the Holy Spirit telling you that such unholiness does not belong with His holiness. Get it right. Confess it! 1 John 1:9 says that if “we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Give Jesus your all. You are in Christ Jesus. Walk not after the flesh…you know what that means to you. Walk in the Spirit. Read the Word daily, pray without ceasing, hide God’s Word in your heart. Those are the secrets to living a victorious life with absolutely no condemnation. It is not only a possible lifestyle, it is the lifestyle Jesus wants us all to live!
Questions to Ponder: I did not go into detail about all the actions in our lives that can be considered “walking after the flesh.” And, although I am not recommending a confession session at this time, what are some of those actions? See Galatians 5:19-21 for help. See the rest of the chapter to decide what walking after the spirit looks like. The beginning of Galatians 5 talks about the liberty with which Christ has made us free. Where is the line between that liberty and walking in the flesh? Is there a line? Discuss the doctrine of holiness. Is holiness in our lives possible?
Other Scriptures to Consider: Galatians 5. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. Ephesians 5:8-21 for a sharp contrast between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. What is the difference between walking in the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit? See 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.
 
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