Daily Thoughts from Romans: NO CONDEMNATION (8:1-8)

Daily Thoughts from Romans: NO CONDEMNATION

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 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. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  (Romans 8:1-8 ESV)

Oh, these freeing words.  Those living under the Law are condemned.  They believe the flesh, their own resources, has strength to keep the requirements of the law.  They may or may not have considered themselves wretched, but they are.  They have no ability to bring their lives into conformity to God’s law.

But for those who are in Christ Jesus there is NO condemnation.  None, ever!  The Law could not give that because the Law could not overcome our flesh, our determination to do things in our own fallen nature.  But Jesus’ death put to death that sinful flesh by paying our penalty for us and this freed him to give us the Spirit of life who enables us to fulfill the requirements of the Law.  This is what was promised in the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34, forgiveness to deal with our guilt and putting His law within us to deal with our inability to keep the law.

Whoever still lives by the flesh is an unsaved person who cannot submit to God’s Law and is hostile to it, and so cannot please God.  But those who live by the Spirit, in accord with Him, set their minds on His desires and His goals.  We have already been reconciled to God and can now accomplish the righteous requirements of the Law and please God.  Therefore, no condemnation.

You may feel that you still are condemned.  This may stem from several things: (1) you still feel trapped in sin, (2) you believe you must be perfect or nearly so to merit no condemnation, or (3) your conscience has been brutalized by those who taught you that you are worthless.

If you still feel trapped in sin it is possible that you are not a believer and you should bring your wretchedness to Him and receive His eternal forgiveness through faith in Christ.  If you are a believer and still feel trapped you must bring your wretchedness to Him and His people and learn that you are forgiven no matter what and that you have the Holy Spirit working in you to grow you.  Let Jesus teach you in his lowliness and humility to live under his yoke (Matthew 11:28-30).

If you believe you must be perfect you do not understand the gospel.  In Christ there is no condemnation.  If you take condemnation on yourself you are betraying that you believe it is up to you to live the Christian life apart from the Spirit’s enablement or that you must somehow secure His enablement and can’t.  But salvation does not depend on you.  It is His work, not yours.  Spend your time with Him and you will be changed.

If your conscience has been brutalized by wicked teachers, let God’s clear truth stated here by Paul counteract the lies you have been taught about God.  He does not condemn those who are in Christ Jesus.  He won’t ever condemn you.  Jesus took our condemnation on the cross.  If we are in him we bear it no more.  He died to sin and rose to life.  THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST.