Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
8:1 is a popular verse often quoted by Christians usually in terms of judging other people or being judged by other people. But that isn't what it means. What it means is that those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned to destruction because of their sin. Rather, they are set free from the natural law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit of life. Our acceptance of Jesus not only gives us an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven when we die, but also the fullness of life which we were created for. Only those who are in Christ receive the Spirit and the life that Jesus offers.
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:3-4 NIV
The Law was powerless to condemn sin, even though God's people offered animal sacrifices to do so, based on His command. Therefore, God the Father, sent Jesus the Son, as a man, as a sin offering to condemn sin so that those who live according to the Spirit (those who are in Christ Jesus) can be righteous before God. This also speaks to the way we live our lives - not in accordance with sin, but in accordance with the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8 NIV
Those who are in Christ Jesus and live by the Spirit must have their minds set on what the Spirit desires, and not on what the flesh desires, otherwise our minds are hostile to God and cannot submit to God's law, nor can we please God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:9-11 NIV
If the Spirit of God lives in us, and He does if we are in Christ, then we are in the realm of the Spirit (perhaps the kingdom of God where life resides) and we belong to Christ and are given life by the Spirit because of righteousness. If the Spirit of God is living in us, then God will also give life to our mortal bodies because His Spirit gives life.
Otherwise, if we are in the realm of the flesh (the kingdom of sin and death which is Satan's dominion), then we do not have the Spirit of Christ and do not belong to Christ (we are not "in Christ"), and we are subject to death and will die because we are merely mortal. Eternal life is found only in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:12-13 NIV
"Brothers and sisters" - those who are in Christ Jesus and have the Spirit of Christ, the ekklessia, the people of God.
God's people have an obligation to live by the Spirit, getting rid of sin. If we do so, we will live. If we don't, but live in accordance to the flesh (sin), then we will die.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:14-17 NIV
The children of God are those who are led by God's Spirit; those who received His Spirit and hear and obey Him; those who recognize Him as their Father, "Abba". The Spirit residing in us brings about our adoption as His children - His sons and daughters. His Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. If we are His children, then we are His heirs, and His heirs are co-heirs of life and of the Kingdom, with His Son, Jesus, if we share in Christ's sufferings. Sharing in his sufferings will also allow us to share in His glory.
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