“For that which was impossible for the law, wherein it was weak through the flesh, God accomplished: sending His own Son in the likeness of the flesh to sin, and for sin’s sake, He condemned sin in the flesh, that the law’s requirement of justice might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Rom 8:3-4

The better foundation

From the laws that affect all men, the apostle jumps back again to the Law of Moses. What was impossible for this law, God accomplished. He writes that God sent His Son “in the likeness of the flesh to sin and for sin’s sake,” thus establishing that sin is related to the flesh. In this, in this flesh, it was condemned, so to speak, which was confirmed by the crucifixion and execution of Jesus. This has resulted in a judgment that is valid before God (cf. Gal 3:13 – cursed is everyone who hangs on the wood. Deut 21-23).

Paul hereby vividly describes what God has accomplished. The flesh and sin came under judgment and that is “finished” (Jn 19:30, Rom 8:3). Freed from what the law could not accomplish, we can now live in a different way – namely, sustained by a new spiritual reality. This is the new basis.

This is tantamount to liberation. The legal requirement of the law is met even though we do not seek compliance with the law and we are not subject to any law. We should not stop at the law, but walk in newness of life. Not only do we have a better foundation, but we also have a better starting point for our daily lives.

The legal requirement of the law

One of the things that Paul highlights over and over again in Romans is the Mosaic Law. The community in Rome is made up of a wide variety of people. Among them are Jews who know the law. Of course, this was also talked about. So some thoughts Paul explains specifically for these people who know well the value of the law. The problem with the Mosaic Law, however, is that it does not make perfect, but highlights precisely the imperfection of human beings. The law makes the problem clear. The apostle wrote about this in Romans 3.

So it happens here that the apostle comes back to the law and says “the impossible of the law … God accomplished”. The law is good, but we do not grasp it. An emphasis on the 10 commandments or on the alleged 613 commandments and prohibitions in the Torah do not bring salvation. They have the promise, but we ourselves keep getting in the way. Paul describes this as “For that which was impossible for the law, wherein it was weak through the flesh. ..”.

The whole section:

“For that which was impossible for the law, wherein it was weak through the flesh, God accomplished: sending His own Son in the likeness of the flesh to sin, and for sin’s sake, He condemned sin in the flesh, that the law’s requirement of justice might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Rom 8:3-4

So Paul does not dispose of the law, but makes it clear that the problem is not the law, but ourselves. The law leads to life, but we do not grasp it. This realistic assessment is the background, not for criticism of the law, but for not presenting the law as a solution.

However, the core (“the legal requirement of the law”) can be fulfilled. This is not by our effort, but by recognizing the accomplished work of God. He has fulfilled it, He has achieved what we cannot achieve. How did God do this?

“Sending His own Son in the likeness of the flesh of sin and for sin’s sake, He condemned sin in the flesh.”
Rom 8:3

We see that the word “flesh” is involved here. It is just a symbol word for our life here in this world. We are determined by our body, by our flesh. That is also where our mortality and defectiveness is at home. The flesh is not called bad here; it is merely the symbolic place where everything goes wrong.

God does not react unworldly

God looks at this and sends His own Son into this world in the same form. God does not react “unworldly”, but sends his son into the center of the problems. You could also describe it like this: In a workshop, you look for the right tool so that you can then use it on the defective part. In the same way, God sends His Son to effectively meet the problems in the right place.

By doing this, God was not only acknowledging the problems, but also fixing them. So it wasn’t just about seeing a problem, it was also about making a diagnosis. The diagnosis is: Here, at this point, things are going wrong. That’s why that’s where the solution comes in. Or in the words of Paul: “[Gott] condemned sin in the flesh”.

Now we move on:

“That the requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Rom 8:4

Although we cannot fulfill the law, there is such a thing as the legal requirement of the law. That is a neutral statement, a statement about the law itself. This expression is not about us, but about the value of the law “for itself”. The law is good. There is a legal demand for perfection. This is the concept, the background of the law. This concept, this legal requirement, can be “fulfilled in us”.

What is Paul writing here? Do we have to fulfill it now after all? No. God has accomplished. This applies now. He did it by not only seeing that many things are going wrong here in this world, but also diagnosing that it has to do with our humanity. However, the diagnosis was followed by treatment. God was the physician. The instrument of healing was His Son. The diagnosis was made, the Son was sent, and the task was “accomplished” (John 19:30). By sending His Son in the same form to the problematic world, He could establish His own righteousness there. This righteousness of God is far higher and more detailed than our effort could ever have become.

So we understand that we cannot achieve God’s righteousness by ourselves, nor do we have to anymore. But we are invited to share in His righteousness. If we go into it, we change camps. We no longer rely on our own performance, but trust in His performance.

Nothing like this, then, is condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, for they do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Rom 8:1). Meat stands for own effort. Spirit stands for a trust in God’s working. Those who trust in God’s work and say, “God has done it,” walk in accordance with the spirit.

“That the requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Rom 8:4

Before and after

“For those who are carnal are mindful of the things of the flesh, but those who are spiritual are mindful of the things of the spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the spirit is life and peace. Therefore the mind of the flesh is enmity against God, because it does not submit to the law of God; for neither can it. But they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Rom 8:5-8

This describes the past in which we lived without Christ. This is contrasted with our new reality:

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwell in you.”
Rom 8:9

“For if God’s Spirit dwells in you” is not a requirement to be fulfilled here, but the confirmation of faith, according to which God’s Spirit bears witness in us that we are children of God (Rom 8:16) and has sealed us (Eph 1:13). He continues with “But if anyone does not have Christ’s Spirit, he is not His” Rom 8:9). Once again, it’s about the “before/after” comparison. The apostle does everything he can to make us see how great the change is that has happened in and with us.

Bringing to life

“But if Christ be in you, though the body be dead because of sin, yet the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your dying bodies through His indwelling Spirit. “
Rom 8:10-11

But if God’s Spirit really dwells in us, Paul says, then He is able to forgive even our present dying bodies a new life. This is a spiritual fact. This is about a new spiritual reality. It is the direction, the concept for our new everyday life. He describes this with the verb “to make alive.”

To make alive is the word used to describe the resurrection to an indissoluble life. Various people have been resurrected, but only one has been made alive at this time, Christ, as the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20). Only He has immortality today (1Tim 6:16). This quality may also apply to us today in a spiritual sense. Our dying bodies can be “made alive” by His Spirit within us. In several places Paul describes this:

“Walk as children of light … Therefore it is also said, Awake thou that slumberest, arise from the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee!”
Eph 5:8-14

“But what was once gain to me I have counted forfeit for Christ’s sake … To know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, whether I might attain unto the resurrection out of the dead.”
Ph 3:7-11

Both Bible passages are also about everyday life, and both passages are about a (spiritual) resurrection in the here and now. It is a vitalization that Paul sets before us, a newness of life that liberates and liberates, that allows the New Life to unfold and counts entirely on this New Life.

“Consequently, brethren, we do not owe it to the flesh to live according to the flesh; for if you live according to the flesh, you are about to die; but if in the spirit you put to death the actions of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery, again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship, in which we cry aloud: Abba, Father! – The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; but if children, then also lot-shareholders, and lot-shareholders of God; but lot-shareholders together with Christ, namely, if we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him.”
Rom 8:12-17

Free we should be, as sons are free in the house. We are children of God and our lives are linked to Christ. We received the Spirit from God (1 Cor. 2:12).

God accomplished

Now we stand in this life with many questions and countless challenges. Everyday life is not easy. However, we know an extra dimension and have had a special experience. The message of God’s grace in Christ Jesus touched our lives and we responded with our own lives. We entered into a relationship. Wonderful. Right after that often comes disillusionment: everyday life is not so easy.

What Paul is pointing to is the changed reality. God has accomplished. This is the basis of the message of Christ Jesus. It is the message of God’s grace. Christians have not experienced an additional burden, but an essential liberation. The liberation is not a liberation of the daily burden, but it is a peace with God. This may now help carry the everyday life.

They are not tips and tricks on how we can manage everyday life. These would also be helpful more often, but thinking is much more significant. How do we think? What shapes our thinking and expectations? When our minds and hearts are filled with God’s grace, we see the whole world in a different light. That is the real power of this letter.

God accomplished. This is allowed to work in and through us.