In Romans 8:1, we read that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. This verse gives so much clarity of what it truly means to be in Jesus Christ and be seated in Him. Let’s look at what the Bible says about the meaning of Romans 8:1 and what it means to be seated in Jesus Christ.
What is the meaning of Romans 8:1?
Romans 8:1 tells us what it means to be in Jesus Christ and to be seated in Him. If you are in Christ Jesus, you walk after the Spirit, and because of that, there is no condemnation.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1)
Many theologians say that the last part of the sentence of Romans 8:1 ‘ who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit’ is incorrect. They say, that it is not written in the original Greek manuscripts.
However, if we continue reading, it says in verse 4, that if you are in Jesus Christ and walk after the Spirit you shall fulfill the righteousness of the law.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:4-5)
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:13-14)
Many Christians don’t know, what it truly means to be seated in Jesus Christ. They talk about being seated in Jesus Christ, because they’ve read it in the Bible or heard it in church or during a conference.
In order to find out what it means to be seated in Christ in your daily life, it’s important to understand what defines a Christian.
What defines a Christian?
You don’t become a Christian by going to church, a church membership, being friendly and good to others, doing charity work, a theological study, or being raised in a Christian home. Many people call themselves Christians, but not all of them are Christians. So what defines a Christian?
You become a Christian, when you believe in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work and accept Jesus as your Savior, and repent and become born again (born of water and Spirit).
By the blood of Jesus Christ, you are sanctified, and through the baptism in water (the death of the flesh in Christ and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead) and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, you become a new creation, a son of God (this applies to both males and females).
Through this identification with Christ, Who is the Firstborn of the new creation, you become a Christian.
A Christian is born in the likeness of Christ and is no longer carnal but spiritual. A Christian is set apart from the world through regeneration in Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian.
Because the flesh is crucified in Christ and the spirit is raised from the dead and the Holy Spirit abides in the Christian, a Christian walks after the Spirit according to the Word and not after the flesh as a sinner anymore.
Walking after the Spirit in the obedience of God’s Word proves, that you have become a new creation in Jesus Christ and are seated in Him.
Everyone is born a sinner
We are all born of the corrupt seed of fallen man. Therefore, we are all born in the flesh as sinners, no one is excluded (except Jesus). Before your conversion and before you were cleansed by the blood of Jesus and became born again in Him, you lived under the authority and power of death in darkness and sin reigned as king in your mortal body.
You were carnal and walked after the will, lusts and desires of the flesh.
The Bible says, to be carnally minded is death.
The carnal mind is enmity against God. Because the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, that represents God’s will and His holiness.
Living after the flesh leads to death. Therefore, it is necessary to become born again in the spirit.
Only the spirit, that is raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, leads to eternal life.
The final destination of the sinner that walks after the flesh and is led by the spirit of this world, is hell. But the final destination of the righteous that walk after the spirit and is led by God’s Spirit, is eternal life with God.
As a Christian, you are saved from death because you are born again in the spirit and has become the new creation, who is justified by the blood of Jesus and has become spiritual. Because you are born again in the spirit and spiritual, you shall walk after the Spirit in obedience to Christ in holiness and righteousness, which lead to eternal life.
There’s no condemnation to them, who are seated in Jesus Christ
If you say, that you know Jesus Christ, but keep walking after the will, lusts and desires of the flesh and persevere in sin (disobedience to God and His Word), then you tell by your works, that you don’t know Him. You may say, that you know Jesus and love Him, but your actions say, that you don’t know Him and are not seated in Jesus Christ.
The Bible says, if you are not seated in Jesus Christ, you shall be condemned. Because there is only no condemnation for those, who are in Jesus Christ, and as a result of this position, walk after the Spirit.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
Romans 8:1
Walking after the flesh under the power of the devil
If you don’t walk after the Spirit but after the flesh, you live under the power of the devil and death and the whole army of darkness. They only want one thing, and that is to destroy you. Therefore, they do everything they can, to cause you to live in rebellion against God.
Living in rebellion against God means that you live according to your will instead of God’s will and keep walking after the flesh in sin.
As long as the devil and demons keep you in the flesh, they shall rule over you. They shall dictate you what to do and have power over your life. Power, that you have been given them by obeying the words, will, lusts and desires of your flesh.
There is only one way to escape their rulership (power), and that is through Jesus Christ.
When you believe in Jesus Christ, repent of your sinful walk (life), and be cleansed with the blood of Jesus, and through the baptism in water lay down your flesh and your spirit be raised from the dead, and through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, receive the Holy Spirit, you shall become a new creation and take on a new position.
A born-again Christian is seated in Jesus Christ
As a born again Christian you are no longer subject to the devil and his host. Although the devil and his host try to make you believe, that you are still subject to them. But the truth is, that you have become a new creation and are seated in Christ.
You are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and are seated in Him in heavenly places. (a.o. Romans 8:17; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 1:13)
In Christ, you are seated above all principality, power, might, and dominion. That’s your new position, as a born-again Christian and son of God (this applies to both males and females).
They shall not reign over you, as they did when you were the old creation and walked after the flesh and sinned, but you shall reign over them, by walking after the Spirit and resist the devil.
Shall you have a peaceful and comfortable life without any problems, setbacks, resistance, and persecution? Shall the devil and demonic powers never attack you and leave you alone? No, on the contrary.
As son of God, you have become an enemy of the devil and his host of darkness. You are a threat and danger for his kingdom.
They will attack you and tempt you to get you into ‘their camp’. They do this, in essence, through temptations and lies by twisting the Word of God into a lie so that you keep sinning and keep walking after the flesh.
That’s why it’s important to renew your mind with the Word of God and have knowledge of the Word, so that, you know the truth and will of God, and know who you are in Christ and what position, authority and power you have received in Him.
Understanding your position in Jesus Christ
It is important to understand your position in Jesus Christ and what authority you have in Him. You are seated in Jesus Christ in the Heavenly Places, and you will reign together with Him.
As long as you stay in Jesus Christ and walk after the Spirit in obedience to His words and commandments, you have all authority over the devil and his whole army.
As long as you stay in Jesus Christ (the Word) you shall be untouchable. Unless…
You reject the Word and return to the flesh and be led by your flesh and the spirits of this world. Then you shall submit yourself to the devil and these evil powers of darkness shall reign over you again and take possession of you with the ultimate goal to destroy you.
The story of the Gadarene man that was possessed with devils
When we look at the story of the Gadarene man that was possessed with devils and abode in tombs, we see the mission of devils.
Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him And they besought Him that he would not command them to go out into the deep And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine:and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked (Luke 8:30-33)
Those devils begged Jesus to not command them to go out into the deep (bottomless pit, hell, abyss).
If Jesus would have commanded the devils to go out into the deep, they had to go back to their master, while their assignment was not fulfilled.
Therefore the devils begged Jesus to let them enter the herd of swine, so that they could accomplish their mission.
Jesus didn’t forbid them, but He allowed the devils to enter the herd of swine.
When the devils entered the herd of swine, we see the true assignment of these devils, namely, destruction.
When they entered the swine, they ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked.
The final destination of those swine should have been the final destination of the Gadarene man. But Jesus prevented it from happening, by delivering this man from devils, so that he could live in freedom.
Christians are seated in Christ and reign with Him
When you walk after the Spirit, you are seated in Jesus Christ. You reign with Christ and do the same works as He did.
But if you stay the old man and walk after the flesh, then you shall be subject to the authories and powers of darkenss.
Your life will be like the Gadarene man, who was ruled, and even tortured, by devils.
Maybe you will have fewer devils than this man and maybe they are less noticeable, because you think it’s your character. But when you walk after the flesh, they shall possess your life and cause destruction, and your final destination shall be eternal death. Because their assignment and ultimate goal is to steal, kill, destroy, and fill hell, with as many people as possible.
The only way to be delivered from their power is through faith and regeneration in Christ, so that you are seated in Jesus Christ and walk after the Spirit.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
