Romans 8:4

Romans 8:4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus not only condemned sin by voluntarily dying on the cross as our substitute, he fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law for us. Jesus took our sins and paid the penalty required by God’s justice and imputed his righteousness to us that we might be found righteous on judgment day. We take hold of this grace through faith and are judged not guilty and are counted righteous because of Christ’s righteousness, not our own.

In this verse Paul gives a description of what God’s grace looks like in a redeemed sinner rather than simply saying, “by faith.” The bottom line is that grace not only saves, but it also changes the way a redeemed sinner lives. A redeemed sinner does not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Praise God that he not only saves sinners from their sin, but also enables them to overcome this sin with a new nature.

If you walk totally according to the flesh, pray that God will bring his Holy Spirit to enable you to walk according to the Spirit with faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.