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"The children" are first described as to their natural state, "common sharers of flesh
and blood"; then, as to their moral and dispensational condition, "held in bondage by
fear of death". The Saviour is first described as to His natural state, "He partook of the
same", and then as to the moral effects, "He rendered powerless the devil" and delivered
His brethren.
Three passages should be read in conjunction with these verses.
Rom. 8: 3;
Phil. 2: 7, 8; Heb. 10: 5-7, and their contexts noted.
"God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. 8: 3).
"Was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man . . . . ."
(Phil. 2: 7, 8).
"When He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldst not,
but a body hast Thou prepared Me . . . . ." (Heb. 10: 5-7).
The section of Romans which contains 8: 3 commences with 5: 12, and reveals
the entry of death. Here it is spoken of as exercising dominion, "Death reigned by one".
The dominion of sin and death is the theme of Rom. 6: 9-14. The law of sin and death
is uppermost in Rom. 7: 21-25. Rom. 8: 2 introduces the other law which indicates
deliverance, "For the law of the spirit of LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the
law of sin and death". This was accomplished by Christ assuming our nature, the result
being "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the spirit". The context speaks of life (verses 6, 10-13), our
deliverance from the bondage of corruption (15-23), a bondage which is ever related to
"fear" (15).
The statement that Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh is here chiefly
connected with the practical out-working of truth, of triumph over death, of "life because
of righteousness", of "life and peace" as a result of being "spiritually minded". The
passage speaks moreover not only of being heirs of God by virtue of being sons of God,
but of being JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST by virtue of suffering together with Him
(17, 18). The goal is that Christ should be "the firstborn among many brethren" (29).
Here we read of having "the spirit of Christ". In Phil. 2: we read of having "the mind
of Christ", of working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, of being finally
fashioned like unto the body of His glory (3: 21). We have also a close connection with
Hebrews:
"Who, being in the FORM OF GOD" (Phil. 2: 6).
"Who being the brightness of His glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE of His Person
(Heb. 1: 3).
"He . . . . . was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2: 7).
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself
likewise took part of the same" (Heb. 2: 14).
"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient
unto death" (Phil. 2: 8).
"That through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the
devil" (Heb. 2: 14).