Romans 8:3

What the law could not do. Literally, “the impossible thing of the law.” The article is present with “law” in the Greek also. The Greek construction is difficult and has been much discussed. However, Paul’s meaning in this verse seems clear. God has accomplished what the law has been unable to do. He has condemned sin, and thus it is possible for the Christian to overcome its power, and to live a triumphant life in Christ.

Weak through the flesh. This cause of failure has already been explained in ch. 7:14–25. The law can point out the right way, but it cannot enable weak, fallen man to walk in it. Paul continues to vindicate the law (see ch. 7:7, 10, 13, 14), ascribing its apparent weakness not to any defect inherent in the law itself but rather to the impotence of man’s nature, corrupted and enfeebled by sin. It is not the function of law to pardon and to restore to obedience. Law can only reveal transgression and righteousness and command obedience (chs. 3:20; 7:7). Therefore, the law of God cannot be blamed or despised for not accomplishing results for which it never was designed. Our failure to render perfect obedience must be blamed upon ourselves.

His own Son. The word “own” emphasizes the close relationship between the Father and the Son (see v. 32). In Col. 1:13 Christ is described as “his dear Son,” literally, “the Son of His love.” There is sometimes a tendency to attribute greater love and self-sacrifice to Christ than to the Father. It is well to remember that it was because God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9). In order to save fallen man, He sacrificed Himself in His Son (see 2 Cor. 5:19). Christ came to reveal the limitless love of His Father (John 14:9; cf. Matt. 5:43-48).

Sinful flesh. The Son of God came to this earth with His divinity veiled in humanity, so that He could reach the fallen race and commune with us in our weakened, sinful state. If He had come clothed with His heavenly brightness, we could not have endured the glory of His presence (see PP 330). Therefore, in His great love and His divine purpose to save man, Jesus “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6, 7, RSV). See Vol. V, pp. 917, 918.

It was also Christ’s purpose in assuming our humanity to demonstrate to men and to the whole universe that sin and Satan may be successfully resisted and that obedience to the will of God may be rendered by human beings in this life (see AA 531; DA 761, 762). Ever since the fall of Adam, Satan had pointed to man’s sin as proof that God’s law was unjust and could not be obeyed. Then Christ came to redeem Adam’s failure. He was made like unto His brethren in all things, He suffered and was tempted in all points like as we are, yet He did not sin (see Heb. 2:17, 18; 4:15). For the human nature of Jesus in relationship to temptation and sin see on Matt. 4:1; 26:38, 41; Heb. 2:17; 4:15; see Additional Note on John 1.

And for sin. Or, “and concerning sin.” The “and” indicates the connection with the preceding phrase. God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin.

“For sin” is from the Greek peri hamartias, which may also be rendered “as a sin offering.” Peri hamartias is frequently used with this sense in the LXX. In Leviticus alone there are more than 50 such occurrences (see Lev. 4:33; 5:6, 7, 8, 9; 7:37; etc.; cf. Ps. 40:6). The phrase also occurs with this meaning in the New Testament in Heb. 10:6-8, where Ps. 40:6-8 is quoted. Consequently, a number of English versions have favored the translation “as an offering for sin” (see RV; Moulton; Goodspeed; RSV, footnote).

On the other hand, however, the context may indicate that the phrase should be understood in a more general sense. Paul’s purpose in this passage is to explain that the Christian may now have victory over sin. The law was powerless to give him such victory, but God, by sending His Son, has now made the necessary power available.

Christ came not only to bear the penalty of sin in His death but also to destroy its dominion and to remove it from the lives of His followers. This entire purpose of His mission may be included in the words “and for sin.” He came to deal with sin and to provide its remedy. He came to atone for sin, to destroy sin, and to sanctify and save its victims.

Condemned sin. Christ’s sinless humanity was a living condemnation of sin. For this sense of condemnation by contrast see also Matt. 12:41, 42; Heb. 11:7. Moreover, Christ’s sacrificial death to sin (Rom. 6:10) forever revealed and proved the exceeding sinfulness of sin, for it was sin that caused the death of the Son of God. This condemnation of sin, effected by the life and death of Christ, means also the destruction of sin’s evil power for the believer who is united with Christ in His death and who rises with Him to newness of life in the Spirit (vs. 1-13).

In the flesh. Christ met, overcame, and condemned sin in the sphere in which it had previously exercised its dominion and mastery. The flesh, the scene of sin’s former triumphs, now became the scene of its defeat and expulsion.