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Welcome back, friends!
A couple of weeks ago, we wrapped up the third week of the Romans 8 study written by Pam Gillaspie. During that week, we looked at several passages related to salvation. As I began writing this post, I was reminded of just how valuable it is to study these passages and see how they connect with one another.
For the past week or so, I had been struggling to figure out what to write about. Then, a couple of mornings ago, as I was reading through John 3 and reviewing the portion of Romans 8 I had already memorized, it hit me! Romans 8:3–4 connects with John 3! It was one of those aha moments when you begin to see how Scripture fits together.
But before we get into that connection, let's review.
What We Know About Romans
Romans Chapters 1-3:20: Paul focuses on showing our need for God’s righteousness for both Jew and Gentile. We are sinners.
Romans Chapters 3:21-5: Paul provides the provision for God’s righteousness. Shows that God saves sinners by faith and not by works.
Romans 6-8: Shows how we are sanctified. Romans 6, we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness.
In Romans 7, Paul describes the ongoing struggle with sin, even for those who belong to Christ. The law can never make a person good.
Romans 8 points us to the freedom we have in Christ and calls us to walk according to the Spirit rather than according to the flesh
Paul addresses how God provided the solution to our problem of sin, and that is where I want to focus today. Let's look at Romans 8:3–4.
Read Today's Passage
Read today's passage with me
Romans 8:3-4
“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
God Sent His Son In The Likeness Of Sinful Man
When it comes to Scripture, context is king, as my Precept friends would say!
Understanding why God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin will help us better understand this passage. So, let's look at another passage of Scripture that helps explain why God sent His Son.
Most people can quote John 3:16 but fail to go above that verse or even after it to get the broader context. Let's go over a quick summary of John 3.
John 3 takes place during the night when a prominent leader of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, spoke to Jesus by telling him that because of all of the signs that He was doing he must be a teacher sent from God. A little background: The Sanhedrin was the Jewish ruling council, with significant religious and legal authority. Keep this in mind as we continue through the passage.
Jesus responds to Nicodemus by telling him how a person can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He uses the words Truly Truly, which means with absolute reliability. This is not an opinion. He tells Nicodemus that in order to enter the kingdom of God he must be born again.
Nicodemus questions this statement. Jesus explains what He means by being born again, referring to being born of water and the Spirit. He also uses the wind to illustrate how the Spirit works. Yet Nicodemus still struggles to understand.
Jesus then challenged him by saying “aren’t you the teacher of the Jews and do not understand these things?”
Remember what I said about the Sanhedrin earlier. Nicodemus was a teacher of Israel, someone who was expected to understand the Scriptures. Yet here we see him struggling to understand what Jesus is saying.
Jesus then makes another “Truly, truly” statement. I like the way the NLT translates this verse because it uses the word believe. The Greek word carries the idea of believing, trusting, and placing confidence in someone.
Notice how Jesus challenges Nicodemus to believe what He is telling him about earthly things before moving on to heavenly things.
The NLT says John 3:12 says:
“But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?”
Jesus then makes some quite astonishing claims to Nicodemus:
Now back to the BSB version verse 13 says:
“No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.”
Jesus then foreshadows what will happen to Him in verses 14-15
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”
If you haven't read Numbers 21, I would encourage you to do so. To summarize the part relevant to our passage, the Israelites become impatient and complain against God and Moses. The LORD sends venomous snakes among them, and after the people acknowledge their sin, God provides a way for them to live. Those who have been bitten must look at the bronze serpent on the pole.
Jesus uses this event to help Nicodemus understand what He is about to do. Just as the Israelites who looked at the bronze serpent lived, Jesus explains that the Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
Then we come to the verse that most people can quote by heart, and one that even many unbelievers have heard:
John 3:16-18
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
It’s important to break this down by asking the 5 w’s and H otherwise you could miss important details.
What did God do? He sent His Son into the world.
Why did God send His Son? To save the world through Him.
What is the result for those who believe in Him? They are not condemned.
What about those who do not believe in Him? They remain condemned.
When does that condemnation begin? Jesus says they have already been condemned.
Why? Because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
From what we have already learned about Creation and the Fall of mankind, this makes sense. Sin entered the world through the Fall, and death came through sin. As Paul explains in Romans 3 and 5, all have sinned and need to be reconciled to God.
We need new life, and Jesus explained this to Nicodemus when He spoke about being born again. We needed a way to be saved from sin, and God provided that way through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Just as God provided a way for the Israelites to live, He provided a way for us to be saved from sin through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Now let's bring this back to Romans 8:3–4. God did what the Law could not do because of our sinful flesh. He sent His Son as an offering for sin, condemning sin in the flesh. Through Christ, the righteous requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us as we walk according to the Spirit.
When I think about what Christ did for us, it is almost too much for me to grasp. He bore our sins on the cross, even though He Himself was without sin. I know that I still sin daily, and just thinking about the weight of my sin being placed on Him is mind-boggling. The magnitude of the sin He bore on the cross is beyond what I can fully comprehend.
When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, you receive a new identity in Him. Notice these phrases in Romans 6:
Because of what Christ has done for us, we need to remember who we are in Him and live in light of that truth.
Practical Ways to Remember Who You Are In Christ
So today, I want to share five practical ways you can incorporate into your week to help you keep your identity in Christ at the forefront of your mind.
1. Ask Yourself, “Am I Living Like I Belong to Christ?”
2. Start a Running “Who I Am in Christ” List, Then Memorize Ephesians 1
The first place I would point you is Ephesians 1. This chapter is so rich in what it teaches us about who we are in Christ.
Before memorizing the chapter, read it multiple times and mark the phrase “in Christ.” Then, write down what you learn in a small journal dedicated to this purpose.
As you continue reading your Bible, whenever you come across a passage that teaches you something about who you are in Christ, add it to your list.
3. Memorize Single Verses Related To Who You Are In Christ.
Most of you by now know that I don't normally memorize single verses. However, in this case, I think it can be beneficial, as long as you understand the context surrounding each verse.
Here is a summary of the verses I recommend.
***Don’t forget to read the verse within its context. ***
Scripture | What it teaches about my identity |
Romans 6:17-18 | I am set free from sin and have become a slave to righteousness. |
Romans 8:1 | I am free from condemnation |
Romans 8:2 | I am free from the law of sin and death |
Romans 8:6 | I have life and peace |
Romans 8:14-17 | I am a child of God |
Romans 8:39 | I have security in God’s love |
2 Corinthians 5:17 | I am a new creation |
Philippians 3:20 | My citizenship is in heaven |
1 Peter 2:9-10 | I belong to God’s people, I am part of the royal priesthood, I have received mercy |
Revelation 2:17 | Future promise: I will be given a new name |
4. Turn Verses Into Prayers:
An example of how you could do this for Romans 8:14-17 would be: “Father, thank You that through Christ I am Your child. Help me live today remembering that I belong to You.”
5. Share one verse about your identity in Christ with a friend. Talk about what it teaches you and how you can remind one another of this truth throughout the week.
Final Thoughts
I hope one of these five ways to remember who you are in Christ resonated with you. Or perhaps you have another idea that would be helpful. I would love to hear what you plan to do!
Leave a comment on the blog post or send me a message if you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Will You Start Today By Asking Yourself, “Am I Living Like I Belong to Christ?”
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Bible Hub. (n.d.). Strong's Greek: 4100. πιστεύω (pisteuó) -- To believe, to have faith, to trust. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://biblehub.com/strongs/greek/4100.htm
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