1Therefore, there is now no c...

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

- P98

3For 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,

4in 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.
- P98

7The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. - P98

10But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

- P99

11And 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.

- P99

There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spiritsets them free from the law of sin and death. God sent His Son in the likenessof sinful humanity to be a sin offering. Those who live by the Spirit have theirminds set on what the Spirit desires and have life and peace. - P99

We, who are in Christ, are not under the condemnation of God, nor will we ever be. The guilty verdict for all our sins is removed through Christ Jesus. Yes, we battle with our sinful, selfish flesh, but the death and resurrection of Jesus provides us with the answer to our struggles. A new life is possible. A life lived, not in the flesh, but by the Spirit. - P100

Death is the inevitable consequence of following the self. That death takes many forms in our relationships and everyday lives. - P100

Ultimately, physical and spiritual death are the curse of sin. But life is the blessing bestowed on us as we follow after the Spirit of Jesus. That life is reflected in a deep and abiding peace that governs our words and actions. - P100

Those who belong to Christ have His Spirit living in them. Although theirearthly or mortal body still suffers the consequences of sin and will eventu-ally experience death, the very life of Jesus through His ever-present Spiritis at work in them and will raise their bodies to everlasting life. The sameGod who raised Jesus from the dead is able to overcome the limitations ofour sinful bodies, allowing us to live life in and through the Spirit.  - P100

All of uswho belong to Christ need to allow God‘s Spirit to write this truth uponour hearts. As we do, our ability to sense and allow the Spirit of Jesus to doHis work in our lives will become stronger. - P100

Have there been times in your life when you have felt stuck in negativepatterns? No matter how much you tried to break free, you felt bound byold ways of thinking, living, and acting that were neither honoring to Goddifficult, if notnor beneficial to your life. In our own strength, it is veryimpossible to change because we are selfish by nature and self-serving bydefault. But with God, all things are possible.
- P101

When Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, He wasn‘t simply offering us the con-ceptof comfort and strength, He was leaving us with the Comforter andStrengthener. Today‘s passage tells us that "the mind governed by the Spiritis life and peace" (Rom 8:6). With the Holy Spirit working in and throughus, we have all that we need to be completely transformed into the likenessof Christ. Yes, we will still face difficulties in this world, but we know thatJesus has overcome the world, and we have access to that same power assons and daughters of God.
- P101

The Lord gives us daily strength to choose His will over our own flesh. TheHoly Spirit brings life and this is not just eternal life; it‘s life in abundanceright now, right here on this earth. It‘s peace. It‘s purpose. It‘s power. If youare feeling discouraged about patterns you cannot seem to break, don‘t giveup call out to the Lord. He will strengthen, help, and equip you with everygood thing you need to do His will, glorify His name, and experience Hisfreedom. - P101

God, my sin is great, but Your grace is greater. - P101

I ask that You impress this truth upon my heart, teaching me through Your Spirit as I grow in my awareness of Your presence and guidance in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P101

7What shall we say, then? Is ...

7What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." - P94

18For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. - P95

24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

25Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
- P95

Paul explains that the Law is not sinful, but it reveals sin. Sin uses the Law toproduce death even though the Law is holy. Paul describes his inner conflict:He desires to do good but finds another law at work within him waging waragainst his mind. Though he delights in God‘s Law, he feels captive to thelaw of sin. - P96

The Law is not evil. God testifies throughout Scripture that the Law was intended to bring life to those who obey it. However, the Law also gives knowledge of sin. The sinful nature with which we are born is rebellious to God, so sin uses God’s commandments to stir up the rebellion inside us. This does not mean the Law is the source of sin. - P96

On the contrary, it acts as a mirror that reflects the sin that is already in our hearts. The Law exposes sin for what it is and helps us come to terms with our inability to obey God’s commandments. But the good news is, as Paul will make clear, that our failures lead us to God’s grace. - P96

God, I desire to live for You, but because my good intentions are weak, I end up doing what I don’t want to do. Please fill me with Your Spirit and surround me with other disciples who will remind me to live for You. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P97

As we learn in this passage, while the Law helpsus understand what God views as sin, it cannot fix the brokenness inside ofus that leads to sin. We are helpless in our own strengthThe more we try to fix ourselves through willpower, the more frustratedand defeated we become. But we were never meant to face this battle alone.
- P97

Paul‘s lament ends with a declaration of faith and thanksgiving, "What awretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject todeath? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
(Rom. 7:24-25). Instead of pretending to be strong, we must allow ourweakness to lead us to God‘s strength. We do not overcome sin by tryingharder but by surrendering deeper. - P97

4So, my brothers and sisters,...

4So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

5For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.

6But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

- P91

Paul explains that the Law has authority over someone only while they arealive. He uses marriage as an example.  - P91

Believers die to the Law through Christso they may belong to Him. They now serve in the new way of the Spirit, notthe old way of the written code. The purpose is to bear fruit for God. - P91

Paul uses the analogy of marriage to illustrate the believer’s relationship to the Law and then to Christ. He explains that just as a married person is bound to their spouse while they are both alive but is free to marry another if their spouse dies, believers are "bound" to the Law, but only while alive to it. Jesus’ death and resurrection brings Christians into a new reality where we are no longer under the Law’s condemning authority. - P92

Because Christ’s death on our behalf satisfies the Law, we have died to the Law and are now alive to God through union with Christ’s resurrection. - P92

Our union with Christ carries the transformational power that makes us dead to the old order so we can fully live in the new. - P92

Paul emphasizes that through union with Christ, believers "serve in the newway of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code" (v. 6). Thisnew way is not made of external rules; it is brought about by an inwardtransformation that produces free, genuine obedience. The old ties to theLaw are replaced by a vibrant relationship with God through the HolySpirit This shift means obedience is no longer a burden but flows naturallyfrom the love and life of Christ within us, enabling us to live authenticallyChrist-like lives.  - P92

We love and obey Christ because of the great love Hedemonstrated toward us. And we have the power to live lives of obediencebecause Christ‘s Spirit is at work in us. - P92

Jesus, thank you for freeing me from the Law’s condemnation and giving me new life through Your Spirit. - P93

Help me walk daily in this freedom, serving You with a joyful heart. In Your name, amen. - P93

Help me walk daily in this freedom, serving You with a joyful heart. In Your name, amen. - P93

After breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, it is right to get rid of all the thingsthat symbolized your unity. Today, let us delete or throw away the things thatsymbolize our unity with the world. Then, express to Jesus through prayer andworship how much you long for intimacy with Him.
- Pastor Sam An - P93

17But thanks be to God that, ...

17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.

18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

- P86

22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- P87

Paul refutes the idea that being under grace means believers can indulge insin. People are slaves to the one they obey-either sin, which leads to death,
or obedience, which leads to righteousness.  - P87

Believers have been set free fromsin and become slaves to God. The result is holiness and eternal life. The wagesof sin is death, but God‘s gift is eternal life. - P87

Paul addresses the paradox of grace and obedience. His question, "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?" echoes the common misunderstanding that grace excuses continued rebellion in sin. - P88

Grace does not give us permission to sin; rather, it liberates us from sin’s bondage so that we can live lives that are pleasing to God. A heart that has truly experienced God’s grace is transformed. It no longer finds enjoyment in sin. This is what enables us, as those bought with the price of Christ’s life, to become "slaves to righteousness." - P88

Our freedom is not to do whatever we want but to fully live our new life, empowered by the Spirit, to genuinely honor God. - P88

Paul uses the shocking image of slavery to illustrate the spiritual realitythat our choices reveal. Our choices show whether we are enslaved to sinor to obedience to God‘s command. Sin promises short-term pleasure butultimately delivers death and despair. Serving God leads to freedom andlasting joy.  - P88

The wages of sin stand in contrast with the gift of God in Christ:salvation is unearned and freely given, yet it calls us into a transformed life.
- P88

We now live changed lives, not because we have to earn eternal life but be-cause we love the God who set us free from sin‘s power. We live Christ-likelives because this is the kind of life that the new heart within us produces. - P88

Gracious God, thank you for freeing me from sin’s slavery through Christ. - P89

Empower me by Your Spirit to live a life of righteousness and obedience that honors You. - P89

May my freedom glorify You and bring me lasting joy. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P89

Healing from these habits begins not with more effort but with recognizinga new truth: that freedom comes from surrendering to God‘s power andliving in alignment with His guidance.  - P89

Paul reminds believers that truefreedom in Christ means identifying with Him, dying to old sinful habitsand living a renewed life empowered by grace.  - P89

Like a recovering addict finding purpose and health through surrender to treatment and rehabilitation,
Christians experience real liberation when we serve God, not sin. - P-1

8Now if we died with Christ, ...

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

- P82

13Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. - P83

14For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

- P83

If believers die with Christ, they will also live with Him. Christ, raised from thedead, cannot die again. Death no longer has mastery over Him. In the sameway, believers are to count themselves dead to sin but alive to God.  - P83

Sin shouldnot rule in their bodies because they are under grace. - P83

Paul reminds us that just as Christ died and rose from the dead never to die again, we who are united with Him must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Sin is no longer our master; we now live under grace, not under the Law. This does not mean we live irresponsibly. It means we live with the empowerment of God’s grace that enables us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. - P84

We are empowered to live a life of active obedience: to offer every part of ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. - P84

Grace empowers transformation so that we do not simply avoid sin but are fully alive to God’s purpose. - P84

"In worship, God invites us to join him in what he is already doing."- Bob Kauflin - P84

Lord Jesus, thank you that sin no longer rules over me. Teach me to live under Your grace, daily surrendering my thoughts, actions, and desires to You. - P85

Strengthen me to reject sin and walk in obedience and joy, reflecting Your righteousness in everything I do. In Your name, amen. - P85

Yet because we have been made alive in Christ, the new heart that He hasgiven us convicts us of our sinful desires. This is why, when we realize ourown sin, we become repentant and seek to turn away from that sin. That isthe beauty of what God does for those who believe in Him.  - P85

He gives thema new heart that is more and more inclined to follow Him, trust Him, andbelieve in Him. Because we are human, how we do this is far from perfect,
but over time, through reading God‘s Word, communing with other be-lievers, and being steadfast in prayer, the desires of our new hearts start toslowly reflect more of God‘s own. - P85