The Walk

I was reading from one of my favorite passages this morning - Romans 8:1, which reads, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" in the NIV but in the KJV the verse ends with "...who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" - a significant addition or deletion, depending on which translation to one adheres.

This is one of those places where translation wars can erupt over the accuracy and/or faithfulness of the text, but not today, not with this writer.  I choose to bridge the gap between the NIV and KJV adherents by noting that the focus of those "who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" is found in both as you reach the end of verse four - the exact same verbiage in both translations.

Knowing that the phrase is there is one thing.  Knowing why it is there is something else.  The fact that it is there adds a qualitative meaning to "in Christ" that equates it to "walking after the Spirit."  In other words, being in Christ is not something one can do and continue to live like those who do not accept Christ as Lord and Savior.

Being "in Christ Jesus" is not just a matter of accepting the fact that Jesus is who he claims to be but moreover it is accepting act of what he came to do: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (Jn 10:10).  He came to bring us the new life of the Spirit that brings life in contrast to the flesh that ends in death as Paul says in verse 2 of this passage.

The point is that being in Christ is not a status one achieves by agreeing to certain doctrine, performing certain rituals and/or accepting certain rules.  Being in Christ, where there is no condemnation is to be "in step with the Spirit" (Gal 5:25), which is evident by your life fruit of "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self- control" (Gal 5:22-23).

Being in Christ is the fact of choosing to take the path or way of life (Christ and f. Matt 7:14) over the way of death (v. 13).  It is to be a follower of Jesus Christ not just a fan.  As the apostle John put it, "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did" (1 Jn 2:6).

There is no condemnation for one who is in Christ Jesus for that person, as imperfect as their effort may be, clothed in grace, follows the Spirit of Christ along the path of righteousness.

So, let me distill this entire article down to one sentence: "If you're going to talk the talk, you must walk the walk."  Jus' Say'n.