Romans 8:10

And if Christ. Or, “but if Christ.” This shows that to have the Spirit of Christ (v. 9) is to have Christ dwelling in the heart as the principle of life (see also John 6:56; 15:4; 2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:16, 17; Col. 1:27).

The body is dead. Commentators have interpreted this text in a number of ways. However, the evident reference in v. 11 to the resurrection of the mortal body indicates that Paul is speaking here of physical death on account of sin (see ch. 5:12). Even those who are born again to newness of life in the Spirit are still subject to death, the death that has been passed from Adam upon all men. But because the Spirit dwells in them, they look forward to resurrection and eternal life (ch. 8:11).

The Spirit. Or, “the spirit.” The context, especially the direct contrast between “the body” and “the spirit” (cf. 1 Cor. 7:34; 2 Cor. 7:1; James 2:26), seems to indicate that Paul is here referring to the human spirit.

Is life. Paul does not say that the spirit “is alive,” but that it “is life,” though many recent versions give the translation “is alive” or “has life.” The human spirit that is pervaded by the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit possesses a God-sustained life. It is in the spirit of man that the Spirit of God performs His quickening, transforming work.

Because of righteousness. Throughout the Scriptures righteousness is consistently associated with life, as sin is with death. When there is righteousness in the life, there is evidence of the presence and power of the Spirit of God, and this means life.

Some commentators prefer to limit the meaning of righteousness in this passage to the righteousness of Christ imputed to the believer for life-giving justification (ch. 5:18). But the context does not seem to indicate such a limitation. Taking righteousness in the widest sense, Paul’s meaning seems to be that, although the body is dead because of Adam’s sin, in which we have all participated (see on ch. 5:12), the spirit is life because of Christ’s righteousness, which has first been imputed in justification and is later imparted in sanctification. This gift of righteousness is accompanied by the gift of eternal life (ch. 5:17, 18, 21). And the evidence that we have received the gift of righteousness and acceptance with God is the presence of the ever-living, ever-active Spirit of God (Eph. 1:13).