Sharper Iron — The Righteousness of God for You: Now No Condemnation in Christ

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Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 8:1-11.

St. Paul reaches one of the high points of the epistle, drawing together all that he has said concerning the unrighteousness of man and the righteousness of God. For those who are in Christ, there is now no more condemnation. The reality of being “in Christ” is the controlling reality for Christians. In Christ, God has done what the law could not do. The law could not do it because of our own sinful flesh. Yet God sent Jesus as true man, without any sin or guilt of His own, to take on our sin and defeat it in His own flesh. Now that He has fulfilled the Law and we are in Him, our walk is not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The flesh and the Spirit are polar opposites. Those who live according to the flesh are entirely hostile to the things of God and hostile toward Him. Those who live according to the Spirit have life and peace and truly please God, not because of anything in themselves, but because of the Spirit who lives in them. He comes to dwell in Christians through the Word, giving them life through Jesus. This is our guarantee of resurrection on the Last Day. Just as the Father raised Christ Jesus from the dead, so He will raise all who are in Christ through His Spirit who dwells in them.

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Romans 8:1-11

Life in the Spirit

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For 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,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in 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. 5 For 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. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Footnotes:

Romans 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)

Romans 8:2 Some manuscripts me

Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering

Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts lack Jesus