Useful Bible Studies > Romans Commentary > chapter 8
God’s law is good and holy; but we are weak and by nature, we often choose to do evil things (7:12-14). That is why God’s law, by itself, cannot bring us into a right relationship with God. We may try to obey the rules - but only the most wonderful act of God himself could ever give us a right relationship with him.
That wonderful act was an act of judgement. God sent his own Son, Christ into the world (John 3:16). Christ became a man who was like us in every way (Hebrews 2:14-18). However, he never carried out any evil act against God’s law; he alone was perfect (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22-23).
That was why Christ could suffer the punishment for our evil deeds (5:6-9). He accepted the judgement that was rightly against us (Isaiah 53:4-9). His own physical body took the responsibility for our wrong and evil acts (1 Peter 2:24). Because of Christ’s death, God can forgive those people who turn from their evil deeds, to believe and trust in him (4:23-25).
As Paul explains this, he emphasises the word ‘flesh’. He uses it as a word-picture for the weakness of our bodies, and especially our natural desires and feelings. We are weak because those desires and feelings often cause us to do wrong things against God’s law. Christ, as a man, accepted that weakness although he never offended against God’s law. He died in the weakness of the human body (2 Corinthians 13:4). However, he lives because of the power of God’s Spirit (8:11). That same power can be in our lives too (8:9-11); the Holy Spirit can give us the kind of life that will never end (John 11:25-26; Romans 8:13).
Next part: Does God's law matter to Christians? (Romans 8:4)
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© 2022, Keith Simons.