Romans 8:1-4 ESV (English Standard Version)

“1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

When you read Romans 8, please do not stop with verse one and build your doctrine of salvation from that one verse as many are doing today. Please keep reading. For to be “in Christ Jesus” requires of God that we deny self, die to sin, suffer for the sake of righteousness, and obey God and His New Covenant commands as a matter of life practice, all in the power of God, by God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, but of God. So lip service only will not save anyone from their sins.

For Jesus Christ gave His life up for us on that cross in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) NOT according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For by faith in Jesus Christ, which comes from God, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in Him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to His righteousness. So if sin remains our practice, we do not know God.

Romans 8:5-8 ESV (English Standard Version)

“5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

As those who profess faith in Jesus Christ we are to be followers of God, of Christ. We are to walk in His ways, in His power and wisdom, and no longer as slaves to sin. We are no longer to be those who are living according to our sinful flesh, setting our minds on the things of the flesh, which results in death, not in life eternal with God. But we are to set our minds and hearts and actions on Christ and on His righteousness and holiness, living our lives to please God in all that we are and say and do. Christ must now be King!

Romans 8:12-17 ESV (English Standard Version)

“12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ 16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Our salvation from sin and eternal life with God are conditional on the basis of whether our lives are surrendered to the Lord Jesus to obeying His commands (New Covenant), to doing His will His way, to dying with Him to sin, and to suffering for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of righteous living. For, as true followers of Christ, we are now debtors to God, to be those who by God-gifted faith in Christ have put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh and who are now walking (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord.

No longer are we to be those who are living according to the flesh, doing whatever we choose, going our own way, charting our own course, just doing what we want. For if that is the course that we choose, it ends in eternal death, not in eternal life. For it is not all who give lip service to the Lord who are the children of God, but it is all who are putting to death the sinful deeds of the flesh and who are obeying God, in practice, in His power, who have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God in heaven.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

The Righteous Requirement of The Law
An Original Work / September 5, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Seek the Lord

Based off Isaiah 55
An Original Work / July 20, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Musical Instrumentation by Mark Bradley

“Come to Me all you who thirst; come to waters.
Listen to Me, and eat what’s good today,
And your soul will delight in richest of fare.
Give ear to Me, and you will live.
I have made an eternal covenant with you.
Wash in the blood of the Lamb.”

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him.
Let the wicked forsake his way, in truth.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will receive mercy.
Freely, God pardons him.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord, our God.

“My word that goes out of My mouth is truthful.
It will not return to Me unfulfilled.
My word will accomplish all that I desire,
And achieve the goal I intend.
You will go in joy and be led forth in peace.
The mountains will burst into song… before you,
And all of the trees clap their hands.”