There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) 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: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) 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.
This is a most blessed Chapter, and cannot fail to make the soul of that man blessed, in whose heart God the Holy Ghost bears witness, the gracious contents of it are written. It begins, with stating the happy condition of the believer in Jesus, that there is no condemnation to them that are in union with him: and it ends, in declaring that there can be no separation from him, in grace here and glory hereafter. It opens with shewing the blessedness of a oneness with Christ, which secures from all the condemning power of the law; and it prosecutes the sweet subject through all the paths of it, from such an union with Christ, and interest in Christ, as preserves the believer from all the remains of in-dwelling corruption, the sorrows of life, and all that may arise, both within and without, to afflict the child of God in going home to his father's house. And it closeth, with challenging all created power to keep from God in Christ!
Perhaps the Reader will enter into the better apprehension of the Chapter, if he were to divide it into the several parts, in which the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to direct the Apostle to treat the several subjects here brought forward. From the first to the end of the fourth verse, the blessedness of a freedom from the condemning power of sin is stated: and the believer justified in Christ, is shewn to be in union with Christ, and walking with Christ.
From the fifth to the seventeenth verse, the blessedness of the believer is shewn, in being led by the Spirit of God, manifesting thereby his Sonship. So that, as the remains of in-dwelling sin hinder not the in-dwelling of God the Holy Ghost; neither shall it hinder the resurrection of the body at the last day, nor the everlasting happiness both of soul and body, to all eternity.
The eighteenth verse opens with shewing the unceasing comfort and support the child of God ought to derive, from the assurance of this state of things, under all the afflictions and sorrows of life. From this verse to the close of the thirtieth, the believer is taught how much a justified and sanctified life in Christ is, or ought to be, lifted up above the pressure of the necessary exercises of a life of grace, leading to a sure life of glory in Christ. And, very blessedly is it proved in this part of the Chapter, that as in all the appointments of the Lord, the Church of Christ in every individual of his mystical body, is chosen to be conformed to the image of Christ in all things, that he might be the first born among many brethren; so all things must, and can do no other, but work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to his purpose.
Everything being now said that can be refreshing and consolatory, to shew the believer his high privileges in Christ, where neither condemnation can affect, nor affliction cast down, his justified state in Christ before God; the Chapter closeth from the opening of the thirty-first verse to the end, to challenge all created power to cause a separation between Christ and his people. And very blessed is that soul taught of God the Spirit, which, from the same cause as the Apostle enjoyed, can adopt the same triumphant language. Reader! let you and I, as we enter upon this precious Chapter, look up to God the Holy Ghost for this unspeakable blessing, that we may make it our own through his divine teaching; and sweetly, through his grace enabling us, rejoice in the transporting assurance, that being justified freely in Christ, nothing can separate us from Christ, and from the love of God which is in Christ through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I pray the Reader as he begins the Chapter, to remark with me, how blessedly the Apostle hath worded it. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Strictly and properly speaking, there never was; for they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and chosen to be holy and without blame before God in love, Ephesians 1:4. But the sense is, that now, by the regenerating power of God the Holy Ghost, they are brought forth to the knowledge and enjoyment of it, from the Adam - state of their fallen nature, and they who were enemies to God by wicked works, are now reconciled in the body of Christ's flesh through death, to present them holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight, Colossians 1:2. And I beg the Reader not to overlook the Apostle's words in the opening of this Chapter, on another account: He saith, that there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Neither is there. For in him, as their glorious Head, Husband, and Surety; they are fully justified. But the Apostle doth not say, that there is nothing in them to condemn. For they know, and confess, that from the remains of in-dwelling sin in them, there is much to condemn; yea, they condemn themselves, 1 John 1:8-9. But Christ hath taken away the condemning power of sin, in having answered all the demands of the law. And, the believer in Christ Jesus is in a state of complete justification before God in Christ and his righteousness. God the Father justifies, Romans 8:33. God the Son justifieth, Romans 4:25. God the Holy Ghost justifieth, 1 Timothy 3:16
And, I beg the Reader yet further to notice the Apostle's words, concerning those in whom there is no condemnation. They are said to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Paul cannot be supposed to mean, that a child of God freed from condemnation, is freed from a body of flesh and sin; for he himself, in a few verses before in the preceding Chapter, lamented with a bitter cry under a body of sin, and a body of flesh of his own, in which he said dwelt no good thing. But I apprehend, the walk of life here spoken of as distinguished from flesh and guided by the spirit, means, a life of faith in Christ; living under an abiding sense of being wholly justified by Him, and having no confidence in the flesh. No Pharisaical righteousness mingled in this walk. Not being puffed up with a fleshly mind. Paul elsewhere expresseth it: To win Christ and be found in him. I pray the Reader to turn to these scriptures, Philippians 3:4-11; Colossians 2:18-19. And doth not such views throw a light upon what follows. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus making the believer free from the law of sin and death; All holiness only in Christ. Christ himself the law, the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. All fulfilled by Christ. All made ours from Christ. So that this Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, communicates the whole efficacy of it as from the head to its members, and they are free from the law of sin and death; and as one with Christ and in Christ, they are freely, fully, compleatly justified, and accepted as righteous in Christ before God.