Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2

Being no longer condemnable in Christ Jesus means his Spirit takes the reins of our lives. I sometimes get the sense that it’s quite easy to nudge the Spirit aside and retake control. Reading Chapter 8:1-25, though, perhaps it’s more like wrestling or wrenching control from him than a head fake.

The extent of our transformation is head to toe. Sure we continue to battle with sin, but these occasional skirmishes can be easily snuffed out by the power that resides within us. So effective is our emancipation we now set our minds on following the one who set us free (v. 2) and gives us life and peace (v. 6). We no longer have a taste for sin. In fact, it’s nauseating! That’s why Paul would wonder if the Spirit of God is in someone who appears to be still feasting off a life of sin (v. 9).

Now from metaphors to an analogy. If your house is infested with termites and you find a pesticide to eradicate them, you’re crazy not to use it. We in the Spirit have the right stuff to constantly keep our house sin free. And every time we apply the Spirit we are reminded that we only have this on our shelf because He’s inside us!

Then we can only hope to be absolutely free of the nuisance of sin, and we groan (v. 23) when the pests reappear! And they will.