Life in the Spirit

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] For the law of (A)the Spirit of life (B)has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For (C)God has done what the law, (D)weakened by the flesh, (E)could not do. (F)By sending his own Son (G)in the likeness of sinful flesh and (H)for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that (I)the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, (J)who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For (K)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on (L)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on (M)the things of the Spirit. For to set (N)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is (O)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; (P)indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
  2. Romans 8:2 Some manuscripts me
  3. Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering

Set free by the Spirit

So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. God has done what was impossible for the Law, since it was weak because of selfishness. God condemned sin in the body by sending his own Son to deal with sin in the same body as humans, who are controlled by sin. He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us. Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness. People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God.

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