Biblog

The KJV translates Romans 8:1 as "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
The NIV translation for Rom 8:1 is shorter -- "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
And the NASB (Rom. 8:1) also has the shorter version: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. "
Milton Terry explains this on page 184 of his excellent "Biblical Hermeneutics" when dealing with the ancient Greek textual variances, and provides his simple hermeneutical principle -- "The shorter reading is to be preferred to the longer."

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And 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 through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:9-11 NIV)

How does this fit into the chart I did yesterday? I'll add a few more items to extend the chart with new information from Romans 8:9-11

According to the Sinful Nature	According to the Spirit
mind set = natural desires	mind set = Spiritual desires
mind of sinful man = death	mind controlled by Spirit = life and peace
sinful mind = hostile to God	mind controlled by Spirit = loves God
hates God's law, cannot submit, cannot please God	loves God's law, desires to obey
controlled by sinful nature	not controlled by sinful nature
...	controlled by the Spirit of God living in you
...	Christ is in you body is dead because of sin
...	spirit is alive because of righteousness

What is controlling your mind? Who is controlling your mind?

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)

According to the Sinful Nature	According to the Spirit
mind set = natural desires	mind set = Spiritual desires
mind of sinful man = death	mind controlled by Spirit = life and peace
sinful mind = hostile to God	mind controlled by Spirit = loves God
hates God's law, cannot submit, cannot please God	loves God's law, desires to obey
controlled by sinful nature	...

Here is the summary of Romans 8 from the JFB commentary -- CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE ARGUMENT--THE GLORIOUS COMPLETENESS OF THEM THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. (JFB says that Romans 8 is the conclusion of the whole argument going on in Romans 1-7.) JFB outline:

1. The Sanctification of Believers (Rom 8:1-13).
2. The Sonship of Believers--Their Future Inheritance--The Intercession of the Spirit for Them (Rom 8:14-27).
3. Triumphant Summary of the Whole Argument (Rom 8:28-39).

Mark Copeland's summary and outline is the best summary and outline, (but beware for some odd theology on occasion) while the other scholars and commentators have provided useful chapter headings and comments on the difficult parts. (For example -- Matthew Henry's commentary has an summary and outline, but the emphasis is on the commentary, and the outline just doesn't stick with me very well.) What I am trying to say is that Mark Copeland discovered that outlining and summarizing the teaching of the scriptures is a very helpful learning technique, and the person who benefits the most is the person who writes the summary or outline. So I should try to write my own outlines -- since I will learn more by doing my own outline, then by studying someone else's outline.

Romans 8 is the conclusion of several threads and arguments in the preceding chapters. How can we summarize the main thoughts or distill the primary teachings of this great chapter? If we can summarize it and internalize it, outline it, memorize it, and not pulverize it -- then the words may begin to transform our lives (by the power of the Holy Spirit).

So, the main point (summary, outline) of Romans 8 according to a few scholars, teachers and commentators:

1. Freedom from Death - Mark Copeland's Outline (as we discussed several days ago)
2. Comfort and Consolation - Matthew Henry's Commentary (see biblog 6-Feb-2004)
1. The particular instances of Christians' privileges (vs.1-28)
2. The ground thereof laid in predestination (vs. 29,30)
3. The apostle's triumph herein, in the name of all the saints (vs. 31-39)
3. Free from Indwelling Sin (vs. 1-11), Sonship Through the Spirit (vs. 12-17), From Suffering to Glory (vs. 18-30), God's Everlasting Love (vs. 31-39) -- [New Geneva Study Bible notes]