This week, we are going to look in particular at how we live our life in the Spirit of God without any condemnation.

Our focal passage is…
Romans 8:1–4 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Paul uses the phrase, “in Christ” 167 times. In verse Romans 8:2, he says we have been “set free in Christ Jesus.” To Paul, God has positioned us “in Christ.”

Here are some of the ways that we are “in Christ.”

In Romans:
• redeemed (Rom 3:24),
• alive to God (Rom. 6:11),
• possessors of eternal life (Rom. 6:23),
• free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2),
• members of one spiritual body (Rom. 12:5),
• sharers in Christ’s work (Rom. 16:3, 9),

In Corinthians:
• sanctified (1 Cor. 1:2),
• recipients of grace (1 Cor. 1:4),
• secure in death (1 Cor. 15:18),
• bold to speak the truth (2 Cor. 2:17),
• new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17),

In Galatians:
• free (Gal. 2:4),
• justified (Gal. 2:17),
• recipients of the blessings given to Abraham (Gal. 3:14),
• sons of God (Gal. 3:26),
• we are one with others regardless of race, gender, or social condition (Gal. 3:28),

In Ephesians:
• recipients of every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph. 1:3),
• God chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Eph. 1:4),
• God predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.  (Eph. 1:5),
• we are blessed in Christ (Eph. 1:6),
• we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7),
• we were also chosen and predestined to conformity with the purpose of his will (Eph. 1:11),
• we were included in Christ when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. (Eph. 1:13),
• we were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Eph. 1:13),
• God expresses in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:7),
• Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ (Eph. 2:4-5),
• Even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Eph. 2:5),
• and now that we are saved we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Eph. 2:10),
• in Christ we have brought near to God (Eph. 2:13),
• partakers with Jews of the promises (Eph. 3:6),
• forgiven by God (Eph. 4:32),

In Philippians
• encouraged (Phil. 2:1),
• at peace (Phil. 4:7),
• God supplies all of our needs in Christ (Phil. 4:19),

In Thessalonians:
• anticipating the resurrection of our bodies (1 Thess. 4:16),
• we are to recognize all circumstances as God’s will in Christ. (1 Thess. 5:18),

In Timothy:
• alive (2 Tim. 1:1), and
• our salvation is in Christ (2 Tim. 2:10).

In our text this morning, “the law of the spirit of life has set us free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death,” which blocked our way to every other blessing which is ours in Christ.

Verse 1 says we are not condemned because we are in Christ.
WOW! There is no doubt about it. Paul was indeed a Jesus Freak! Look at our amazing position because we are in Christ.

If you have a bad image about yourself, it is either because you don’t know who you are in Christ or you don’t believe what God says about who you are in Christ.

Tomorrow, I’m going to play the role of a psychologist and show you how this truth should be applied to our way of thinking about ourselves and others.