Romans 8:1-8 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”
Romani 8:1-8 « Non c’è dunque più nessuna condanna per quelli che sono in Cristo Gesù, 2 perché la legge dello Spirito della vita in Cristo Gesù mi ha liberato dalla legge del peccato e della morte. 3 Infatti, ciò che era impossibile alla legge, perché la carne la rendeva impotente, Dio lo ha fatto, mandando il proprio Figlio in carne simile a carne di peccato e, a motivo del peccato, ha condannato il peccato nella carne, 4 affinché il comandamento della legge fosse adempiuto in noi, che camminiamo non secondo la carne, ma secondo lo Spirito. 5 Infatti quelli che sono secondo la carne, pensano alle cose della carne; invece quelli che sono secondo lo Spirito, pensano alle cose dello Spirito. 6 Ma ciò che brama la carne è morte, mentre ciò che brama lo Spirito è vita e pace; 7 infatti ciò che brama la carne è inimicizia contro Dio, perché non è sottomesso alla legge di Dio e neppure può esserlo; 8 e quelli che sono nella carne non possono piacere a Dio.”
Whenever you see “therefore” at the beginning of a thought, it represents the summary of the previous thought. Here Paul teaches that believers have the new nature of the Spirit of Christ working in their mind; however, the mind of sinful nature still fights to regain control. The issue that revolves around this idea is “Which nature is in control”? As a believer we should not feel condemned: the enemy of our soul is still fighting the ‘new’ mind of the Spirit. But it is our duty to feed our minds with things that will continue to keep sinful nature defeated.
Verse 5 lays the groundwork for this conclusion. Those who live according to the principles of sinful nature inherit death and those who live according to the Spirit inherit life and peace. Living a life according to the Spirit cannot be achieved by simply an occasional thought to the things of God. Day by day we must submit to the control of the Spirit. Power to live according to the things of the Spirit is secured because Christ has set us free from the power of sin and death (v. 2). The power to live in the Spirit gives renewing strength as we aspire to have our minds set on the things of the Spirit. If you find spiritual victory hard to find, it is possible that you have not set your mind on or submitted to the power of the Spirit. As we experience each victory over the will of sinful nature, it demonstrates that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Pray with me: Lord, I still struggle with the old sinful nature that tries to regain its hold on my life. In those times, help me to submit to Your power that sets me free from sin and death.
