by Pastor Rich Carlson

Paul talked a lot about the law as he wrote to the believers in Rome. Here I continue to see the journey of a man who converted from Christian persecutor to Christian leader. The journey does not always appear to be an easy one, and it parallels so many lives, including mine, as we struggle with responding correctly to God’s goodness and grace.

The "therefore" in Romans 8:1 implies that it is a conclusion to something. It’s a funny place for a conclusion—at the beginning of a chapter. But don’t put a lot of theological stock in the placement of verses and chapters. If I remember the story correctly, many of them were put there by an itinerant preacher riding on a horse between churches! Sometimes they look like it too—maybe he meant to put his pen one place, but the horse would take a step and his mark would land somewhere else.

So what is Paul’s conclusion in this verse? As I read chapter 7, I see Paul wrestling with a good and a bad law, struggling with a law of obedience to God and a law of rebellion with Satan. And it was quite a battle. The good he wanted to do, he couldn’t, and the bad he didn’t want to do, he did. He didn’t think very highly of himself in the midst of this battle, calling himself a "wretched man", and asking, Who is going to deliver me from this battle (7:24)?

The interesting thing is that he seemed to want deliverance from both laws. Deliverance from trying to be good enough and from trying not to be bad. Both seemed to trouble him, but especially the bad one. "Who will rescue me"? he asks (7:24). And his answer?—"Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (7:25). And as long as he retained the solution, the battle subsided.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation"—for failing to be good enough, or failing by being bad—"for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). The journey can take me to both extremes. It has at times done so in my own life. But "thanks be to God," who gives me the victory over both. Now obedience to God takes on a whole new meaning "in Christ", and is a valuable part—no, it is the only part—of my life work on earth. Victory over the devil and his ways comes as I remain "in Christ Jesus." It’s a great way to live. I highly recommend it.

 Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.