This condemnation of the sin dwelling in us takes place because of the extent to which sin has taken root in humanity. Sin prohibits us from fulfilling the good demands of the law of God. Jesus removes this blockade, thereby allowing for the fulfillment of God’s will in human beings. What the law requires of us is reasonable, for it is righteous (dikaioma). Human beings and society are being purified whenever the law is fulfilled.
The verb Paul employs here (plērōthē, translated as fulfill
) specifically points to the complete permeation of that righteous demand of the law that people should be holy (the singular dikaioma is used here, indicating that the law has one all-inclusive goal). Paul loved that law, but its fulfillment in his life was being blocked. Now God sends his Son to make that fulfillment possible.1
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.