"No Condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!”

“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.” (Romans 8:1-4 ESV)

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to go back to this verse and re-read it, just to remind myself that the Son of God has removed all condemnation towards me. My eternity and acceptance by God, our Father, are not based on my performance here on this earth. I will not stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) waiting to be condemned for my deeds during my lifetime.“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” And Paul states in verse 2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” I stand amazed in the presence of God’s grace. How can He love me, one who is not faithful to Him? As I’ve said before, I don’t know how His grace and love work, except to say there is nothing too great for our God. I can only rejoice in the fact that His word teaches that there is no condemnation for any child of God, because of God’s mercy and grace and the obedience of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Paul continues his presentation of comparing the Old Testament Law with God’s grace, and it is marvelous. Personally, I think 8:1 puts an end to all discussions about the details of Chapter 7, where Paul contrasts the spirit and the flesh. I appreciate the way he starts Chapter 8; it really sets the tone for the rest of his argument. In verses 5-8, Paul makes a very important statement that we all need to understand. He says: “For those who are according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” 

You see, in the flesh we cannot please God. We can’t do enough good on our own. I think these verses are exactly what Paul is saying in Eph. 2:8-9 (For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.) Then, in verses 9-17, Paul explains the life of the believer in whom Christ dwells. Yes, it’s true that the Holy Spirit dwells in each believer, but sometimes I think we forget that Jesus dwells in us and is with us everywhere we go. As believers, we take our Savior and the Holy Spirit with us everywhere.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (8:16) Have you ever been overwhelmed with God’s grace? With how He saved you, or how He continues to bless you, overwhelmed at His faithfulness, goodness, generosity, and love of our God? That’s one way “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” 

Believer, don’t doubt your salvation; don’t let anyone make you think you didn’t pray the right prayer; you didn’t really mean it when you repented (changed your mind about salvation, from works to grace). Don’t let anyone try to take your “peace with God” away from you (Romans Chapter 5). Rejoice in your salvation and the relationship that Jesus has given you with the Father.

When the evil one starts dredging up all your past sins and how many times you have fallen in your walk of faith, remember Romans 8:33,35,38-39 “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... For I am convinced that neither death, nor angels, not principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law; He has given us freedom to live our lives to honor Him: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We need to believe it and start living as we believe it.

If you haven’t received the gift of salvation, you are telling God that you can do this on your own. That you can be good enough so He will owe you eternal life. You are living in the flesh, and you cannot please God. You are in opposition to Him. But there is good news: if you change your mind about being sufficient on your own, and if you agree with God that what you deserve for your sins against Him is eternal separation from Him. If you will allow the good news of salvation to persuade you that God is right and you are wrong. Then the truth in verse 1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”, can be true for you as well.

"Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"