Title: "No Longer Condemned"

Text: Romans 8:1-4

Date: 1-13-08.am

1 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,

2 because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

3 What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin's domain and as a sin offering,

4 in order that the law's requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Rom 8:1-4

I love the way this chapter begins, It is one of the great chapters in the Bible. It was a passage from this chapter the Holy Spirit used to first draw me to faith in Christ. I can't think of any words Paul might have written any more assuring than this first verse. "Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus." Last week we talked about the spiritual war that rages within believers between the old nature and the new nature, Spirit and flesh. We talked about how Christians sometimes lose the spiritual battles in our lives because we take our eyes off Jesus and begin to fight these battles in our own strength, wisdom and power. The result is the same as it was for Peter who was walking on the water until he took his eyes off Jesus and saw the storm and began to sink. We begin to sink when we begin to handle things on our own.

The good news is Jesus Christ won all the battles I have ever lost. Because of that, Romans 8 promises an all encompassing, all sufficient victory for every person "in Christ." The means for achieving this victory is the presence of Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This chapter gives us the assurance of our ultimate victory and security through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The truth is, even in the face of what seems like sure defeat, we can be free from the guilt and power of sin through Jesus Christ.

NO CONDEMNATION

I know you remember by know Paul's over arching theme so far has been justification by faith. You can't go through the book of Romans without that just shouting at you - the sovereign and gracious act of God where He declares believers righteous. In chapter 3 Paul addressed mankind's condemnation. In 3:10-18 Paul drew a bleak picture of humanity condemned before God. In the first part of Ro 5:16 he pointed out: ". . . on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation." He then pointed out in the second clause that on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. NASB

Chapter eight begins with Paul emphatically declaring that in Christ you now experience no condemnation. If Paul were preaching you might picture him shouting out at this point therefore there is now no condemnation in Christ! The word therefore looks back really at all he has written up to this point particularly chapter 6 and 7, and specifically recalls his words in verses 24 and 25 of chapter 7. Where Paul saw his predicament in struggling with sin, declared himself to be wretched and he cried out asking the rhetorical question who can set me free, then answering it in verse 25. I like the way those verses are paraphrased in the Living Bible:

"Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free." (TLB)

Therefore, He continues in chapter 8 saying because I have been set free even though I struggle with sin on a daily basis there is now no condemnation. That means that there is no pending death sentence and no upcoming execution of that sentence. Paul wrote in Romans 3:23 and 6:23 that we've all sinned and all of us fall short of God's glory and the result of that sin is death. Physical death and spiritual death or separation from God is the condemning consequence of Adam's sin. As descendants of Adam we are all face that same condemnation, but through faith in Jesus Christ we are now set free from that condemnation. In Adam there is only death, In Christ there is life.

Paul drives his point home through the use of the word "no." There is now "no" condemnation. In no way whatsoever will the person who has received Christ ever face condemnation. We are not going through life waiting for the "axe to fall," so to speak. We already know the pardon has been granted through our faith in Jesus Christ. Again looking back at chapter five this reinforces what Paul wrote in verses 16-19:

16     And the gift is not like {that which came} through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment {arose} from one {transgression} resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift {arose} from many transgressions resulting in justification.

17     For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

18     So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

19     For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.(NAS)

Jesus Himself declared the blessed assurance that whoever hears and believes Him will not be condemned (John 5:24). Paul tells us later in chapter 8:34 the only One Who has the right to condemn us is the very One who comes to our defense.

Paul places a great deal of emphasis on the finality of this truth when he wrote: "There is now no condemnation". "Now no condemnation" covers all our sin, past, present, and future. The Christian is taken outside the realm of any conceivable condemnation.

Paul does tell us we will give an accounting (1 Cor 3:13). There will be a hearing and we will stand before the Righteous Judge. But as Christians we will not face the condemnation.

THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST

The key words to understanding no condemnation in verse one are "In Christ." There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ as opposed to those who are condemned in Adam. We have been liberated from an old principle: "the law of sin and death" (8:2). That is the principle that sin produces death. All of us are under that law because in Adam all have sinned. We are sinners by nature, we are sinners by fact and sin produces death. As Paul has pointed out sin is our master death is it's wage. And, no one can liberate himself/herself. The only way liberation comes in by being "in Christ."

To be in Christ means to be in a right relationship with God through personal faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Not just to believe Jesus is Savior and Lord, James points out even the demons believe, but to know He is your Savior and Lord. He is Savior and Lord because God has declared Him so. He can only become your Savior and Lord when you acknowledge your need and accept Him by faith. Paul uses that term in Christ 84 times in his letters. We have redemption in Christ (3:24). We are alive to God in Christ (6:11, 1 Cor 15:22). The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ (6:23). We have been sanctified in Christ (1 Cor 1:2). We have liberty in Christ (Gal 2:4). We are justified through faith in Christ (Gal 2:16). We are equals in Christ (Gal 3:28). We are blessed with every Spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3). We have hope in Christ (Eph 1:12). All of those things come from personally being "in Christ."

There is a new principle at work in our lives when we are "in Christ:" the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus." (8:2) Paul's focus throughout this chapter is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. When you are "in Christ" the Holy Spirit is in you and in your life. There is a new regulating, activating, energizing power in your life. He is the "Spirit of life" because He animates your soul with a new life energy. This new life energy does not destroy the law of sin and death, it's still at work in the world. And, as Paul reminded us in chapter 7 Christians still struggle with sin. We still face physical death which is the result of sin in the world. Christ lifts us above the old law of sin and death. Jesus explained to Martha in Jn 11:25-26: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die." NASB The Spirit of life in Christ delivers us from spiritual death that is a result of sin. Christians are never free from the struggle against sin, but we are no longer helpless and ineffective in our struggle and we no longer face it's harshest penalty eternal death and separation from God.

The Shortcoming of the Law of Moses v. 3

Paul recognizes the shortcoming of God 's law of Moses in verse three. What the law could not do he wrote. What could the law not do, what can the law not do now? First, it is impossible for the Law of God to change behavior. The Law defines sin, describes punishment, but can't change behavior. We have laws against speeding but they can't make us not speed. We have laws against murder but they can't stop murder. That's why we have police departments and jails. You can memorize the ten commandments and the entire Sermon on the Mount, and even the entire New Testament but you will not change by merely knowing the Law. That in no way minimizes the importance of knowing the Scriptures. Knowing the Scripture is important. But, knowing doesn't equal doing and Paul wrote the law was weak because our flesh is weak.

Second, and most important, the law can not deliver us from sin. Paul made that point earlier. The law is holy it is just and it is good (7:12) but can't deliver from sin and death. It wasn't designed to. The law does exactly what God intended for it to do. Paul said it was only weak because our sinful nature is weak and unable to obey it. His emphasis is not on what the law can't do but on what God can do. Only God has the ability to deliver us from sin and death.

Paul wrote in verse 3: He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin's domain and as a sin offering. God sent His Son to assume our limitation, human flesh. Jesus was born into the world with the same flesh and blood as us. That's the miracle of the incarnation. He was fully God yet at the same time fully man. He faced all the same needs, the same struggles, the same weaknesses, and Yet on the battlefield where we lost, He won. Where we were defeated, He was victorious. The man Jesus conquered where all other men lost. And, He turns to us, to you and to me with love and grace and says, " My victory is your victory."

The law then, Paul wrote, is fulfilled in us through Him and we participate in His victory when we walk "according to the Spirit." That means we must first posses the Spirit of God through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Allow that indwelling Spirit to be the regulating principle, the dominant rule in our lives. Then His victory is our victory. Jesus said: ". . .you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." Jn 8:32, 36 NASB

Are you willing to claim that victory and walk in that freedom today? You can "in Christ" where personal faith and trust in Him, His glorious victory through His death and resurrection is our victory.