NO CONDEMNATION

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” – Romans 8:1. Why? “Because the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set is free from the Law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:2

Notice “therefore” in the first sentence. It would be wise to know, to find out what comes before that adverb.

Romans chapter 1 shows us the sinfulness of the Gentiles. Chapter 2 exposes the hypocrisy and sinfulness of the Jews because they did the very things they condemned the Gentiles of. In chapter 3 Paul concludes all men (both Jews and Gentiles) to be under sin and therefore worthy of God’s wrath and condemnation but concludes that through faith in Jesus Christ man receives pardon from sin. Chapter 4 teaches us the example of Abraham and David’s imputed (credited) righteousness by faith without works. Chapter 5 reveals the contrast between the consequences of Adam’s sin and the far, exceeding, great repercussions of Christ’s obedience to them that believe. Chapter 6 shows our death with Christ to sin and new life in rightoeusness. But then, when things seem to be going perfectly, the tone changes. The Apostle laments about his sinfulness and continual failure despite his desire to keep God’s Law until he finally (and wisely) gives up and let’s Christ do it all.

It’s as though he had regressed but the problem here is not backsliding rather his Law-consciousness was the cause of his sinfulness despite being a new creature in Christ. The lesson we draw from here is that the Law reveals sinfulness (it doesn’t cure it) but rather is our schoolmaster (Rom 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:8; Gal 3:19, 24-25; 1 John 3:4) meant to break us entirely until we give up and look to Christ’s righteousness alone. The strength of sin is the Law (1 Cor 15:56).

In order to overcome sin one has to be under the banner of Grace and not the Law. “Sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace” – Rom 6:14

Law means I work and God rests. Grace means God works and I Rest. The Law demands, Grace supplies. In Christ, whatever God’s rightoeusness requirements are demanded of me from the Law are not expected to be done by me but through Christ in Me. Let the burden be His. If the pressure is on you, though you are saved you are still Law (demand) consciousness.

If the lading is on Christ then the strain is no longer on me but on Him. This is what is referred to as “liberty in Christ”. It is not a license for sin rather it is the power over sin because Christ will work in me that which is good – Rom 6:1-2; Eph 2:10; Phil 2:13; 1 Thess 4:1-8; Titus 2:11-14. His grace supplies all I need to fulfill God’s rightoues requirements.

Let’s go back to Romans 8:1. This chapter now describes life in the Spirit as an outflow of rightoeusness in contrast to the Law which is manifested in the flesh.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We have shown a broad context of this verse. Let’s look at the implications thereof.

The moment a man, woman or a child puts faith in Christ they become saved, born again (John 3:16; Rom 10:9-10).  When they were dead in their sins, they were enemies of God. Why so? Because God is holy and His rightoeus standards demand justice and therefore the wages of sin is death. But even so He still loved us (Rom 5:8) and sent His Son JESUS Christ who died because our sins and rose again for our justification/rightoeusness.

Now the born again Christian can confidently say that God is their “Abba,” Father. The moment you put faith in Christ’s Finished Work for you, you communicate to God that you believe that Jesus took the place of your punishment. Before God all the wrath, judgment, condemnation, guilt, shame, regret etc. was put on Christ and now you have recieved His rightoeusness (2 Cor 5:17, 21).

Basically, there is/was a divine exchange. He took your sins and all of it’s consequence and you recieve His rightoeusness and all of it’s consequences. The law of double jeopardy states that you cannot punish the same sin twice and we know from the Scriptures that Jesus paid it all, once for all – Heb 9:12, 26, 28; 10:10

And the perfect sacrifice for sin that Christ made takes away the sins of the Believer not just in the past but in the present and also in the future. Basically, the forgiveness of sins for the born again Believer in Christ covers all of their sins until Christ’s return or in their death. I know these statements will raise quite a few eyebrows. Let me prove them to you by Scripture, and yes, I get what you’re probably thinking, “won’t this kind of teaching give people a license to sin?”

Remember that grace is not a license for sin but the power to overcome sin (Romans 6:2; Titus 2:11-14). The Apostle Paul was actually accused by his detractors of preaching licentiousness because he emphasised on God’s grace which some not fully understanding dismiss it as a cloak for sin (Rom 3:8; 2 Pet 3:15-16; Jude 1:4).

When God chose us the born again Christians, we are told in Scripture that our names were written in the Lambs book of life from the foundation of the world (Jer 1:5; 31:3; Rom 8:29; Eph 1:4; 2 Tim 1:9; Rev 13:8; 17:8).

That means that He chose us having put into account all of our sin, mistakes and failures. Basically He chose the elect despite and isnpite of their stupidity. Look at the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, David etc and you’ll quickly understand that God chose them not based on their performance but rather because of their faith in Him (Hebrews 11).

There is nothing that I can do that will catch God by surprise because He knows everything ahead of time, in fact He is outside the boundaries of space, time and matter (Exo 3:6, 14; Rev 1:8). He has already put into account all that I’ll ever do and yet He chose me. And this is because I put faith in Jesus’s perfect, finished work for me.

And it’s not that He has lowered His standards on sin. The wages of sin is death. Rather, my sin (and all it’s consequences) was put on Jesus when He became my substitute on the Cross. The penalty for my sins has been paid once, for all through His precious Blood which by the way still speaks better (stronger) things for me than the blood of Abel.

The atoning death of Christ did not just pay for my sins from my birth until the day I became saved but rather He paid all of my future sins too. Is this backed up by the Scripture. Of course. Look at Colossians 2:13&14;

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”

He forgave all our sins. The Greek word translated “all” is “pas” which means; individually, each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things,everything, collectively (some of all types). The word translated “forgave” in the Greek is in the aorist tense and  which means the action (of pardon, forgiveness and grace) already happened in the past.

As far as God is concerned my sins were forgiven at the Cross 2000 years ago. So now what I the Christian should do is know that I am under no condemnation, guilt, shame etc. because Jesus was judged on my behalf.

When I sin instead of lamenting and wallowing in guilt, condemnation, shame, self-pity and self-loathing, I should look at the empty cross, the symbol of victory and thank God that my sins have already been paid for. Say, “Lord, I have sinned and fallen short of your glory but Christ is in me the hope of glory. I receive the forgiveness that was purchased for me on the Cross by the Blood of Christ and the Grace to walk in holiness. I thank you for it in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

Do this despite your feelings. The devil has already been judged (John 16:11) and He knows his fate (Revelation 20). He has no right whatsoever to condemn you. He wants you to be condemned because condemnation kills but the Holy Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:3-18). Jesus is the only One who has the right to condemn us and yet He makes intercession for us at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1).

This is why we are told in Hebrews to come boldy (Heb 4:14-16; 10:19-23, 35) before God knowing that we have a great High Priest who can understand our weakness and help us overcome our temptations. When we sin, His Blood cries over us “not guilty, not guitly, not guilty” because we are born again, new creatures in Christ.

We also told to hold fast to our confession. Confession of sins? No! Confession of who God’s Word says we are despite what we feel, see and experience. The reason why you are to hold fast to these confessions (for example, “I am the righteousnessof God in Christ Jesus”) is because there are continuous opportunities available to to cause you to say otherwise.

Israel thought that talking about the giant of the land was humility but their rebellion was displayed because they failed to believe and confess what God’s Word had said about. They failed to enter the Promised Land not because of sin but because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:7-19).

God will correct us, discipline us, chastise us but He will not condemn us. The Holy Spirit can be grieved, quenched but He will not condemn you. He convicts (condemn) the world (not the Church) of sin, rightoeusness and judgement but points us to Jesus 

There is a difference between conviction and condemnation. The devil condemns you, blames you, makes you focus on your sin and never points you a solution.

The Holy Spirit convicts you and them shows you the empty Cross of Christ and His perfect Blood and shows you the way out of your predicament. He magnifies God’s grace, love and forgiveness over the sin and therefore helps you out of whatever pit you are in
His voice is reassuring and encouraging. He builds you up and edifier you in the Word. That’s the voice you are to follow because it is backed up by the Bible, the Word of God.