After Paul has described the tragic and hopeless situation of human beings who live in opposition to God and his holy law, he now turns to a description of the life of Christian believers who are ruled by the Spirit of life, who helps them live according to the will of God. In 8:1–4 Paul explains his exclamation of thanksgiving in 7:25, elaborating what he has said in 7:6. Believers who have been incorporated into Christ and who have thus been freed from the control of the law, which leads to death, are enabled to fulfill the law through the power of the Spirit. Verse 1 reminds the readers that believers who are “in Christ Jesus” are not under condemnation because they have died with Christ (Rom. 6:1–11), who atoned for their sins through his death (3:21–31). In verses 2–4 Paul describes …