“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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, he condemned sin in the flesh, 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. 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 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. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For 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. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For 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!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and 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. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8, ESV)
Paul begins with no condemnation and concludes with no separation and a lifetime cannot provide enough time or space to plumb the depths of this passage. We must be content to gaze upon only a few truths that will captivate both heart and mind, but do not lament for you can return again and again for refreshment. God's condemnation does not rest on the believer in Christ. The Christian is set free from sin and death. God himself satisfied the righteous demands of the law in the person and work of Jesus. The word spirit is used twenty-one times and only two (verses 15 and 16) does it refer to anything other than the Holy Spirit. Paul contrasts life in the Spirit with life in the flesh. We are exhorted to deal ruthlessly with the works of the flesh and put them to death. As those that have been set free, we are no longer slaves to sin, and we have the assurance that comes from the Holy Spirit reminding us that we have been adopted as joint heirs with Jesus and children of the living God.
Suffering is a part of existence in this fallen world, and Paul points out that creation is longing for redemption, and we too eagerly await Supreme adoption and redemption. Creation has been subjected to futility but there is hope, and we are to wait with patience. We are not alone, and we have help in our weakness as the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. Even if there are times in our lives where we are unsure of what to pray, the Holy Spirit communicates on our behalf. God has decreed, accomplished, and applied salvation. Because of this truth, all things are working for his glory and our good. He is saving to the uttermost. Paul pauses to let us catch our breath and then praise rises. God is for us. God gave himself for our redemption. Who shall charge or seek to condemn God's elect? Christ, our elder brother, is at the right hand of God, and he interceded on our behalf. Is there anything greater than the love of God? What can separate us from the love of God? No, we are more than conquerors because we are in Christ who has conquered all foes, and he is our Lord!