Yes—the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in believers who, being in Christ, walk after the Spirit rather than after the flesh.
God accomplished in Christ what the law, weak through the flesh, could not do: He condemned sin in the flesh. This fulfillment is the result of salvation by faith and the Spirit’s control, not the human effort that earns it.
Romans 8:3-4 — This passage contains the phrase in question and explains that God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin, so the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in those who walk after the Spirit.
Paul writes in Romans 8:3-4 that the law could not produce righteousness because it was weak through the flesh. Therefore God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as an offering for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. The result is that the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in those who do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit. Elsewhere Paul makes plain that love is the fulfilling of the law: 'Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law' (Romans 13:8), and 'Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law' (Romans 13:10). Paul also warns in Galatians 5:4 that if anyone is justified by the law, Christ is become of no effect to them and they are fallen from grace. Righteousness, therefore, is not presented in Scripture as something produced by law-keeping, but as something God does in and through those who are in Christ.
Les Feldick explains that the phrase in Romans 8:4 does not describe how a person gets into Christ. A person enters the Body of Christ by believing the Gospel; walking after the Spirit is not the means of salvation. Once that position in Christ is established, the statement finds its proper place: the righteousness, or the full purity, of the law is fulfilled in believers who now walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Les shows that the law as God first gave it was perfect, holy, and righteous, but the only Person ever able to keep it was Christ Himself. Therefore, any attempt to be justified by the law or by doing something in the energy of the flesh makes Christ of no effect and turns from grace. Instead, when the love of God is imparted through the Holy Spirit and works in a believer’s life, that believer fulfills the whole law. The Spirit becomes the guideline for living, and one of the first marks of true salvation is a change in lifestyle, appetites, and thought process—from being under the control of the world, flesh, and devil, to being under the control of the Spirit of God.
No. Les teaches that the walk statement in Romans 8:4 is not the way a person gets into Christ. He says the phrase did not belong in verse 1, where it could be attached to no condemnation, but properly belongs in verse 4, where it describes those who have already come to salvation. For those who are now in Christ, the Spirit becomes the guideline for living.
Les explains that the law, as God first gave it, was perfect, holy, and righteous, but that only Christ kept it. The law by itself could only condemn. So God sent His Son and condemned sin in the flesh. Now, in the believer’s position in Christ, the Spirit of God produces the walk that fulfills the law. Paul’s connection to Romans 13:8 and 10 is that love—the God-given love imparted through the Spirit—is the fulfilling of the law.
Les emphasizes the word 'but' in Romans 3:21. Under the law, all was condemnation; nothing man could do could keep the law except the rituals and sacrifices, which restored relationship. But now Christ has died, paid the sin debt, been buried, raised, and ascended. In this new set of circumstances, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested—witnessed by the law and the prophets—and it comes by the faith of Jesus Christ to all who believe.
No Condemnation to Those in Christ
Les establishes the baseline that all mankind is under condemnation, but once a person is in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation—setting up why Romans 8:4 speaks to believers.
The Spirit-Led Walk Fulfills the Law
Les shows that the righteousness and completeness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk after the Spirit, and that the Spirit’s imparted love causes a believer to fulfill the whole law.
God’s Righteousness Is Not by Law-Keeping
Paul contrasts the righteousness of God without the law with righteousness by religious law-keeping, showing that it comes through faith in Jesus Christ to everyone who believes.
Position in Christ Precedes the Walk
Les says the law in its original purity was perfect, holy, and righteous, and that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in believers who have their position in Christ by believing the Gospel. This is the proper place for the walk statement.
Only Christ Kept the Law Perfectly
Les notes that only Christ walked the planet without sin, and that trying to be justified by law or legalism makes Christ of no effect and turns a person from grace.
The Spirit Is the Believer’s Guideline
Les connects the believer’s walk to the Spirit as the guideline for living, and quotes Romans 13:8-10 to show that love fulfills the law.
Righteousness of God Apart From the Law
Les contrasts the law’s condemnation with the new situation after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and emphasizes the righteousness of God revealed without the law.
Recognizing Sin Leads to God’s Righteousness
Les shows that the first step of salvation is recognizing we are sons of Adam, sinners, and a fallen race; then the flip side is the righteousness of God without the law being manifested.
Romans 8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
This verse explains why God sent His Son and how sin was condemned in the flesh.
Romans 8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
This is the verse in question, defining the result of Christ’s work for believers.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Paul grounds the fulfillment of the law in the believer’s position in Christ, which carries no condemnation.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Paul contrasts God’s righteousness with law-keeping, showing it is revealed apart from the law.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
This verse connects the righteousness of God to faith in Jesus Christ, not to keeping the law.
Romans 13:8: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
This shows that love fulfills the law, a key point in Les’s explanation.
Romans 13:10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
This reinforces that the law is fulfilled through love, not through human effort.
Galatians 5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
This warns that seeking justification by law makes Christ of no effect, highlighting that righteousness cannot come from law-keeping.
It refers to the perfect, holy, and righteous requirement of the law as God first gave it. Since no one but Christ could keep it, God sent His Son to condemn sin in the flesh, and this righteous requirement is fulfilled in believers who walk after the Spirit.
No. Les teaches that the walk statement belongs after salvation, not as a condition. A person is placed in Christ by believing the Gospel; walking after the Spirit is the proper result and setting.
Through the love of God imparted by the Holy Spirit working in the believer’s life, which fulfills the law. The Spirit becomes the guideline for living and produces a changed lifestyle and appetites.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:2 Explained — Free from the Law of Sin and Death