"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death" (Ro.8:1,2). Why 'therefore'? Unfortunately, the artificial chapter division makes some people to divide chapter 8 from 7 and assume that chapter 7 describes a kind of life that a Christian leaves behind and comes to the life described in chapter 8! But this 'therefore' makes us go back to the previous passage in Ro.7. To paraphrase vv.21-25, we can say, "I find myself struggling between two laws inside me, one that makes me want to do what is right, and the other that tries to force me to a life of sin. Jesus has set me free, even though this conflict still exists, by giving the upper hand to the law of God." Because we are now able to serve the law of God – the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus – there is no condemnation for us.
Ro.7:25 makes it very clear that the law of sin is still working in our flesh, and what we see in practice is that we fall occasionally due to various reasons. If we do, there is forgiveness which we can receive (1Jn.1:9;2:1), after which we can resume serving the law of God. There is still no condemnation for us.
Now think of two situations. Here is a group of people who have not come into Christ by being born again, but they are externally following Christian religious practices. Obviously, the law of God is not 'in' them, and the law of sin is working in their flesh. What happens if they live according to the flesh and take sin lightly, assuming on forgiveness? Can they still say there is no condemnation?
Another group has those who have come into Christ, but they have not taken their sin seriously, or they have backslidden. In other words, the ruling law in their practical life is the law of sin and they have have not subjected themselves to the law of the Spirit. Can they rejoice thinking that there is no condemnation?
Won't it be good for these people if they feel the condemnation and that it causes them to come to the Lord in honesty and humility? Instead, if their leaders are proclaiming to them that there is no condemnation for them, is it not harmful?
How is it with us? Can we say that it is the law of the Spirit that is ruling us? Then we will be able to see the fruit of the Spirit increasing in our life (2Pe.1:8). If so, we can go to that 'therefore' and claim that there is no condemnation for us. Otherwise let us not try to hush the voice of conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit by calling it condemnation! Let us even check ourselves to ensure that we belong to Christ (2Co.13:5). If sin is ruling in our life, that ought to condemn us! Let us not allow preachers to whitewash over the areas we lack in, by quoting verses that do not apply to us (Ez.13:10).
Preachers who claim they are living in Ro.8 and not in 7 any more are not being honest. The two passages are connected.