8:1 condemnation. The word “condemnation” is the same in the Greek as “judgment.” The Christian is not to be judged as to salvation, since Christ has already been judged for our sins on the cross. As Christians, however, we will be judged for rewards or loss of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10).

8:1 after the Spirit. This clause beginning with “who walk” is not found in a few of the ancient manuscripts; however, it is not redundant, as some claim, since it is synonymous and descriptive of “them which are in Christ Jesus.”

8:2 law of the Spirit. The “law of the Spirit of life” has invaded and opposed “the law of sin which is in my members” (Romans 7:23), thus freeing us from its bondage (Romans 6:14-18). We cannot obey God’s law in the strength of the flesh, but as we reckon (that is, deliberately acknowledge) ourselves to be dead to sin and “alive unto God” (Romans 6:11), this doctrinal truth increasingly becomes practical truth in our lives.

8:3 likeness of sinful flesh. Jesus Christ truly came “in the flesh” (John 1:14; I John 4:2), but only in the “likeness” of “sinful” flesh. Outwardly the flesh of His human body was exactly like that of other human bodies, but it had been preserved free from inherent sin by His miraculous conception and virgin birth, then kept free from actual sin by His sinless life. Thus His flesh was sinless flesh.