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There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

There is therefore now — Now, after such bloody wounds and gashes, chronicled Romans 7:1-25 . Though carried captive, and sold under sin, yet not condemned, as might well have been expected. This the apostle doth here worthily admire.

No condemnation — Non una condemnatio; ουδεν κατακριμα , not one condemnation. There is none in heaven, God doth not condemn them: none on earth, their own heart and conscience doth not condemn them: no word, no commandment, no threatening. An unbeliever shall have a double condemnation; one from the law which he hath transgressed, and another from the gospel, which he hath despised: as a malefactor, that being condemned and dead in law, rejecteth his prince’s pardon. But it is otherwise with those that are in Christ Jesus. The law cannot condemn them, because they have appealed: the gospel cannot, because they have believed. God will "cast out condemnation for ever," as one renders that place, Matthew 12:10 , εως αν εκβαλη εις νικος την κρισιν . (Lud. de Dieu.)

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For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For the law of the Spirit — That is, Christ revived and risen hath justified me. See Trapp on " Romans 4:25 "

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For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

It was weak through the flesh — Which was irritated by the law, and took occasion thereby.

In the likeness of sinful flesh — Christ condescended to our rags, sordes nostras induit, took our passions and infirmities natural, but not sinful. He was in all things like unto us, but in sin: as the brazen serpent was like the fiery serpents, but only it had no sting.

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That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Might be fulfilled — In us applicative, in Christ inhaesive.

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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.

Do mind the things — For want of a better principle. The stream riseth not above the spring.

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For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

To be carnally — The quintessence of the flesh’s wittiness, or rather wickedness, φρονημα .

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Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Because the carnal mind — The best of a bad man is not only averse, but utterly adverse to all goodness. Homo est inversus decalogus, Job 11:12 , an ass’s foal for rudeness, a wild ass’s for unruliness.

Neither indeed can be — Spiritual arguments to a carnal heart are but warm clothes to a dead man. He hath brought a miserable necessity of sinning upon himself: his soul and all the powers thereof being but the shop of sin; his body and all the parts thereof tools of sin; his life and all his actions of both soul and body a trade of sin.

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So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Cannot please God — Their best works are but dead works, saith the author to the Hebrews; but silken sins, saith Augustine. Lombard citeth that Father, saying thus, Omnis vita infidelium peccatum est: et nihil bonum sine summe bone. The whole life of unbelievers is sin: neither is there anything good without the chiefest good. Ambrose Spiera, a Popish postiller, censureth this for a bloody sentence, Crudelis est illa sententia, Harsh is that opinion, saith he.

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