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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

If you have ever watched a jury read a verdict either live in person or on television, or perhaps heard the judge handing down a sentence to a convicted killer, there is something almost surreal about it. These are just simple words being spoken, but the words carry a massive amount of weight. The spectators in the courtroom, as well as the defendant, are hanging on to every word that is spoken because it means so much to each person for very different reasons. The Bible describes God as one who acts as both jury and judge, with immense power that can change not only our lives but our eternities with only a single word. But since God the Father does not condemn Jesus, neither can the Father condemn those who are in Jesus. Those who are in Christ are not condemned; they will not be condemned, and they cannot be condemned. That is wonderful news! Paul’s goal in making this point comes from a logical argument that we can follow to a clear conclusion. It’s as if Paul's 'Therefore' to begin this passage says: “I can prove what I will say next, and this is what it proves: if we are one with Jesus and He is our head, we cannot be condemned." You can’t acquit the head and condemn the hand. You can’t drown the foot as long as the head is out of water. You cannot send the hand to hell and the rest of the body to heaven. Joined to Christ, the verdict is not less condemnation or some condemnation, but it is no condemnation! That’s where many believers see themselves, thinking their standing before God has only improved in Jesus. But it has not been improved; it's been completely transformed and changed to a total judgment of no condemnation. Once again, this is the Gospel, and this is why it is such amazingly good news. It is out of this incredible good news that our lives of gratitude and holy pursuit of Christ should flow. But we should also consider the flip side of this good news: that if you are not in Jesus Christ, there is real condemnation hanging over you, and these words of judgment are very much deserved.

In today's passage, Paul talks about arriving at a place of confidence and peace when our mind is governed by the Spirit. It is only fitting that the sons of God, those adopted children of the Most High, should be led by, connected to, and in step with the Spirit of God. (Galatians 5:25) Being led by the Spirit is not a pre-condition to being a son of God. Instead, we become sons first, and then the Spirit of God leads us. Paul didn’t say, “As many as go to church, these are the sons of God.” He didn’t say, “As many as read their Bibles, these are the sons of God.” He didn’t say, “As many as are patriotic Americans, these are the sons of God.” He also didn’t say, “As many as take communion, these are the sons of God.” The test for sonship and connection with the Father is whether or not that person is led by the Spirit of God. This presents a very important question for the believer: What does it mean to be led by God's Spirit? What does that look like in our everyday lives? Paul answers that question by describing the idea of guidance. When we as believers are sensitive to and listen to the guiding prompts of the Holy Spirit within us, we are led to do natural acts so that God can work in the supernatural. As we respond to those urges, prompts, and still small voices within us, though it may be uncomfortable for a season, we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit leading and more easily recognize that still, small voice. In the same way, when we reject, ignore, or refuse the prompting of the Holy Spirit, over time, we become calloused and numb to that voice in our lives until we don't even notice it anymore. The Spirit always leads us to a greater place of humility, faith, service, and repentance, but a rejection of that voice always indicates we are moving towards selfish pride and unrighteousness. As it is with salvation, the choice is up to us as to whether we will walk by the Spirit or by the flesh.

God's desire for our lives is that the Spirit would rule over our flesh instead of the other way around. When we allow the flesh to reign over the Spirit, we find ourselves bound by sinful patterns and the desperation that marked Paul’s life in his “Romans 7" struggle. Our Christian walk and the pattern of our life must be according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh if we hope to fulfill our God-given purpose. Walking in the Spirit means that the course, direction, and progress of one’s life are directed by the Holy Spirit. This is a continuing and progressive motion. It doesn't end, and we don't retire from it. Paul gives the reader an easy way to determine if we are walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh by simply noting where our mind is set. Is your mind set on the things of this world or the things of heaven? Do you prioritize the things of God or the cares of this world? The mind is the strategic battleground where the flesh and the Spirit fight. We shouldn’t think those who set their minds on the things of the flesh are only notorious sinners. They may be noble people who have good intentions. Peter meant well when he told Jesus to avoid the cross in Matthew 16, but Jesus responded to Peter with strong words, referring to him as Satan and how he was not mindful of the things of God but the things of men. In this way, Peter was acting in a way that was not in line with The Spirit of God. When our minds are set on the things of the flesh or on the carnal things of this temporal world, we bring death into our lives and prevent the building of the Kingdom of God. But walking in the Spirit brings life and peace, and we become part of the building of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the righteous walk on the narrow road that every child of God has been called to.