Just imagine yourself sitting in a trial, fully aware that you are guilty. The jurors return from their deliberation, and the judge holds the verdict in his hands. The courtroom is filled with tension as everyone waits for the reading of the verdict. Then the judge says, “You are not guilty; you are not condemned!”

For the Christian this is the reality, this means they are not condemned because they have peace with God. The wrath of God has been satisfied on their behalf, which eliminates hostility, guilt, or shame (Romans 3:26).

How do we receive this merciful verdict? Paul explained in the previous chapter that “with my flesh I serve the law of sin,” but he also said, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25). We thank God because He has set us free from sin and death by condemning sin in the flesh through the incarnation of Christ (John 1:14). By taking on humanity, Christ lived the life we could not live and died the death we deserve, thus freeing us from the obligation of the law so that we may live according to the Spirit. The flesh has failed to serve God’s righteous requirements, but in the Spirit, we fulfill the law through Christ.(Matthew 5:17)

So, do we fix our minds on what Christ has done? Do we place our faith in His sufficiency in our daily lives? Do we believe in the magnitude of God’s love in giving His only Son to set us free from sin? If so, let us be compelled by this love (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

As we are compelled by the love of Christ, we begin to set our minds on things above and gradually realize our daily freedom from sin as we mature into His likeness (Ephesians 4:13). As Christians, we are not condemned (John 3:18). The law becomes an instrument of grace that points to the work of Christ, urging us to live in righteousness through the strength, energy, and love of Christ, which fills us by His Spirit (Philippians 1:8; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:29; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:16).

This is what pleases God (Romans 8:8).

Father God, I pray that we find our rest in Christ and learn what it means to live by the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Lord, we confess that at times we are overcome by the temptations of this earthly body, this body of sin. I pray that you help us fix our minds on the Author and Finisher of our faith and guide us to walk by the Spirit. Lead us to put off the old way of living and put on the new life that you have freely given us through your Son. Empower us by your Spirit, granting us the willingness to make these changes. We desire to please you.