Verses 1-4. What is the happy condition of those who are ‘in (union with) Christ Jesus’? How has their deliverance been brought about, and what is God’s purpose in effecting it? Answer: Living without condemnation, apart from the law of sin and death. The law was weak, and Christ was powerful to bring us to righteousness. Their (our) deliverance is brought about by Christ living in us, so that we may all live together with Him in heaven.
Verses 5-17. Life according to the flesh, and life according to the Spirit, are contrasted here. What is it that effects the change from one to the other? How do we know that life in the Spirit carries with it also ultimate victory over death? If this life is ours what is our present duty and why? And what are our present privileges? Answer: Belief in Christ, and allowing the Spirit to control one’s life. Christ left the Spirit, part of the Trinity, here to carry with it that same victory we have in Christ so that we may live to be more like Him spreading the Good News and sharing His love that He has for all men. I know that sounds a little 60’s hippie, but the difference is the real effect the Spirit has on one’s life. Life is so much better when you let God have control, and God does that through guiding us with the Spirit. That is why Christ sent the Spirit here when He left. I don’t know if I answered the questions correctly??!!
Note:
V1. ‘Condemnation’ probably means ‘the punishment following sentence’, i.e. penal servitude.
V2. The Spirit, sin, and death are regarded as powers exercising authority, and the Spirit proves the stronger. Cf.Gal 5:16-17.
V3. ‘In the death of his own Son, who has come in our nature to make atonement for sin, God has pronounced the doom of sin, and brought its claims and authority over men to an end’ (Denney)
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