Romans 8:4

KJV

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

KJV (with Strong's)

That {G2443} the righteousness {G1345} of the law {G3551} might be fulfilled {G4137} in {G1722} us {G2254}, who walk {G4043} not {G3361} after {G2596} the flesh {G4561}, but {G235} after {G2596} the Spirit {G4151}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the Spirit wants.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 8:4 encapsulates the profound theological truth that the righteous standard demanded by the Mosaic Law, which humanity could not achieve in its own strength, is now fulfilled in believers. This fulfillment is not by human effort but by the indwelling and empowering work of the Holy Spirit, enabling those who walk according to His leading to live lives that genuinely reflect God's righteous character, in stark contrast to living according to the fallen human nature or "flesh."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 8:4 stands as a pivotal statement within Paul's grand exposition on the Christian life, immediately following the liberating declarations of [Romans 8:1-3](/romans/8-1-3 "Romans 8:1-3 - No Condemnation in Christ"). Having concluded the intense struggle with sin under the Law described in [Romans 7](/romans/7 "Romans 7 - The Struggle with Sin"), Paul introduces the Holy Spirit as the divine agent who liberates believers from the "law of sin and death" and enables them to fulfill God's righteous requirements. Verse 4 explains *how* the "law of the Spirit of life" (from [Romans 8:2](/romans/8-2 "Romans 8:2 - The Law of the Spirit of Life")) achieves what the Mosaic Law could not: the actualization of righteousness in the believer's life. It sets the stage for the rest of chapter 8, which elaborates on the Spirit's role in adoption, sanctification, and future glory.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's audience in Rome was a diverse mix of Jewish and Gentile believers. For the Jewish Christians, the Law (Torah) held immense significance as God's divine revelation and the pathway to righteousness. However, Paul consistently argues that while the Law reveals sin and God's standard, it cannot provide the power to overcome sin or impute righteousness ([Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - The Law Reveals Sin")). The cultural context also included various philosophical and religious systems that emphasized human effort, asceticism, or ritualistic adherence as means to achieve spiritual purity or favor with deities. Paul's message directly challenges these notions by asserting that true righteousness and spiritual vitality come not from human striving or legalistic observance, but from divine enablement through the Holy Spirit, a concept revolutionary to many in his audience.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Romans and Pauline theology. It reinforces the theme of **Justification by Faith**, showing that while believers are declared righteous by faith in Christ ([Romans 3:28](/romans/3-28 "Romans 3:28 - Justification by Faith")), this justification leads to a transformed life empowered by the Spirit, where the practical requirements of God's righteousness are genuinely lived out. It highlights the **Inability of the Law** to save or sanctify, not because the Law is flawed, but because of humanity's sinful "flesh" ([Romans 7:12-14](/romans/7-12-14 "Romans 7:12-14 - The Law is Holy, but Weakened by Sin")). Crucially, it introduces the **Empowering Work of the Holy Spirit** as the means by which God's righteous demands are met in the believer, establishing the Spirit as central to Christian living, sanctification, and victory over sin. This distinction between "walking after the flesh" and "walking after the Spirit" is a foundational concept throughout [Romans 8](/romans/8 "Romans 8 - Life in the Spirit").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Righteousness (Greek, _dikaíōma'_):** From G1345, this term refers to an equitable deed, a statute, or a decision. In the context of "the righteousness of the law," it signifies the just requirement, righteous standard, or moral demand of the Law. It is not about earning righteousness through works, but about the righteous standard that the Law sets forth being realized or fulfilled.
* **Fulfilled (Greek, _plēróō'_):** From G4137, meaning "to make replete," "to cram," "to level up," "to furnish," "to satisfy," or "to accomplish." Here, it denotes the accomplishment or realization of the Law's righteous demands. It implies that the Law's purpose, which was to reveal God's perfect standard, is now being met in the lives of believers, not as an external imposition, but as an internal reality enabled by the Spirit.
* **Flesh (Greek, _sárx'_):** From G4561, this term can refer to the physical body, but in Pauline theology, especially in Romans 7-8, it often denotes the fallen, unregenerate human nature, characterized by its inherent weakness, sinfulness, and rebellion against God. It represents humanity's natural inclination to sin and its inability to please God apart from divine intervention.
* **Spirit (Greek, _pneûma'_):** From G4151, referring to a current of air, breath, or breeze. Theologically, it signifies the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. In this verse, it represents the divine power and presence that indwells believers, empowering them to live in accordance with God's will and to overcome the sinful inclinations of the flesh.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us":** This clause explains the purpose (indicated by "That," G2443, _hína_) of God's action in sending His Son (mentioned in the preceding verse, [Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - God Condemned Sin in the Flesh")). The "righteousness of the law" refers to the just requirements or moral standards that the Mosaic Law prescribed. The Law itself was holy, just, and good ([Romans 7:12](/romans/7-12 "Romans 7:12 - The Law is Holy")), but it was "weak through the flesh" ([Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - The Law Weakened by the Flesh"))—it lacked the power to enable sinful humanity to perfectly obey its demands. Now, through Christ and the Spirit, these righteous demands are "fulfilled" or actualized "in us" (G1722, _en_ G2254, _hēmîn_), meaning they are realized within the lives of believers, not by their own strenuous efforts, but by God's enabling grace. This is not about earning salvation, but about the Spirit producing a life that genuinely reflects God's character.

* **"who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit":** This participatory clause describes *who* benefits from this fulfillment and *how* it is manifested. "Walk" (G4043, _peripatéō_) is a common biblical metaphor for one's way of life, conduct, or manner of living. To "walk after the flesh" (G2596, _katá_ G4561, _sárx_) means to live according to the dictates of one's fallen, sinful human nature, which is inherently hostile to God ([Romans 8:7](/romans/8-7 "Romans 8:7 - The Mind of the Flesh is Hostile to God")). Conversely, to "walk after the Spirit" (G2596, _katá_ G4151, _pneûma_) means to live under the guidance, influence, and power of the Holy Spirit. This is the new reality for believers: a life no longer dominated by sin, but empowered by the Spirit to live in obedience to God's righteous standards. This contrast highlights the fundamental shift in the believer's life from self-reliance and sin-slavery to Spirit-dependence and righteous living.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs a powerful use of **Antithesis** in this verse, juxtaposing "the flesh" against "the Spirit." This stark contrast is central to his argument in Romans 8, illustrating two mutually exclusive ways of living and their respective outcomes. The "flesh" represents the fallen human nature, incapable of pleasing God, while the "Spirit" signifies the Holy Spirit, the divine power enabling righteous living. This antithetical parallelism emphasizes the radical transformation that occurs in the believer's life through the Spirit. Furthermore, the phrase "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" utilizes **Metaphor**, where "walking" serves as a vivid image for one's lifestyle or conduct. This metaphor effectively conveys the idea of a continuous, directional way of life, guided either by human sinful inclination or by divine empowerment. The verse also implicitly uses **Cause and Effect**, where God's act of sending His Son and the Spirit (the cause, implied from [Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - God's Solution in Christ")) leads to the fulfillment of the Law's righteousness in believers (the effect), specifically in those whose lives are characterized by walking in the Spirit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 8:4 is a cornerstone for understanding Christian sanctification, bridging the gap between justification (being declared righteous) and the practical outworking of righteousness in daily life. It clarifies that the Law's purpose was not to provide the means of salvation, but to reveal God's perfect standard and expose humanity's inability to meet it. God's solution is not to lower the standard, but to provide the divine power through the Holy Spirit to enable believers to fulfill it. This fulfillment is not about perfect, sinless living in this age, but about a fundamental reorientation of life's direction and a progressive conformity to Christ's image, driven by the Spirit. It underscores the active role of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, moving beyond mere conviction to empowerment for holy living, thereby demonstrating the reality of God's redemptive work.

* [Galatians 5:16](/galatians/5-16 "Galatians 5:16 - Walk by the Spirit")
* [Philippians 2:13](/philippians/2-13 "Philippians 2:13 - God Works in You")
* [Ezekiel 36:27](/ezekiel/36-27 "Ezekiel 36:27 - God's Spirit Enables Obedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 8:4 offers profound comfort and challenge to the believer. It reassures us that the burden of perfectly fulfilling God's righteous demands, which was impossible under the Law due to our fallen nature, has been met through Christ and is now being actualized in us by the Spirit. This means our Christian walk is not a perpetual struggle to earn God's favor through rule-keeping or self-effort, but a dynamic partnership with the Holy Spirit. The challenge lies in actively choosing to "walk after the Spirit" rather than "after the flesh." This involves daily surrender, listening to the Spirit's promptings, obeying His guidance, and cultivating a dependency on His power for transformation. It implies a shift from a performance-based spirituality to a relationship-based one, where our obedience flows naturally from the Spirit's indwelling work, enabling us to genuinely love God and neighbor, and to reflect the character of Christ in a way that the mere observance of rules could never achieve. This verse calls us to embrace the freedom and power available in the Spirit, leading to a life that truly honors God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to rely on my own strength or willpower ("the flesh") rather than the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit?**
* **How can I more intentionally "walk after the Spirit" in my daily decisions and interactions?**
* **What does it mean for the "righteousness of the law" to be fulfilled in *me*, and how does this truth impact my understanding of sanctification?**

### FAQ

**Does Romans 8:4 mean that Christians are now perfect and completely fulfill the Law?**

Answer: No, Romans 8:4 does not teach sinless perfection in this life. Rather, it signifies a fundamental shift in the believer's orientation and capability. The "righteousness of the law" refers to its just requirements and moral standards. Before Christ and the Spirit, humanity was enslaved to sin and incapable of meeting these standards. Now, through the Spirit, believers are empowered to live in a way that aligns with God's righteous character, no longer dominated by the "flesh." This is a progressive work of sanctification, where the Spirit enables a new pattern of life characterized by obedience and love, even as believers continue to struggle with indwelling sin. The Spirit provides the *power* and *direction* to fulfill the Law's intent (love for God and neighbor), not a declaration of flawless performance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 8:4 profoundly highlights the Christ-centered nature of salvation and sanctification. The "righteousness of the law" could not be fulfilled by humanity because of the weakness of the "flesh" ([Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - The Law Weakened by the Flesh")). God's solution was to send "His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh" ([Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - God Condemned Sin in the Flesh")). Jesus Christ, the perfect Son, perfectly fulfilled the Law's demands on our behalf through His obedient life and atoning death, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin ([Hebrews 10:1-10](/hebrews/10-1-10 "Hebrews 10:1-10 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). His death broke the power of sin, and His resurrection inaugurated the new era of the Spirit. Thus, the fulfillment of the Law's righteousness "in us" is not merely an individual achievement but a direct result of Christ's finished work, applied and empowered by the Holy Spirit whom He sent ([John 16:7](/john/16-7 "John 16:7 - The Spirit's Coming")). The Spirit enables believers to "walk" in a manner consistent with Christ's righteousness, making the righteous demands of the Law a living reality in their transformed lives, thereby reflecting the very character of the One who perfectly embodied God's will ([1 John 2:6](/1_john/2-6 "1 John 2:6 - Walk as Jesus Walked")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 5:25

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16

[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Colossians 1:22

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Ephesians 5:26

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Ephesians 5:27

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Jude 1:24

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,