How does someone get to be in Christ Jesus?
A person is placed in Christ Jesus by faith and faith alone in the Gospel, and that positioning is an act of God. No unbeliever is in Christ; regardless of outward behavior, only those who are in Christ by faith possess that standing, and they have no condemnation.
Les teaches that Romans 8:1 follows the dilemma of Romans 7, where believers sometimes do what they know they shouldn't. In spite of that dilemma and our failures, God has promised no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Les emphasizes that no unbeliever is in Christ; a person may try to walk or behave like a Christian, but unless he is in Christ, he is not one. For those who are in Christ, the position is obtained by faith and faith alone in the Gospel, and that is an act of God. Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
More Questions
Do we get into Christ by virtue of our walking?
We did not get into Christ by virtue of our walking, so verse 1 must not be read in a way that makes our walk the basis of being in Christ.