No Condemnation in Jesus

This summer is flying by, and I am unable to prepare new studies for the next few weeks. Until I can get back to Ecclesiastes, I thought I would share insights from one of my favorite chapters in the scripture--Romans 8. It is so full of God’s love and mercy toward those who love Him. I think it might become one of your favorite chapters too as you take time to ponder its truth.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

“condemnation” = adverse sentence, judge against, damn; Webster—dooming to punishment

“in” Christ = position, relation of rest, give self wholly to

There are three main points to this verse:
1. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
2. Those in Christ do not walk after the flesh.
3. Those in Christ walk after the Spirit.

This verse brings to mind some verses in John 3.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

This verse indicates that there are two categories of people in the world:
1. Those who believe on the Son of God and are not condemned.
2. Those who do not believe on the Son of God and are already condemned.

To be “in Christ Jesus” means that you believe on Him as the Son of God, the Savior, the Messiah, have given yourself wholly to serve Him, and you are in a position of fellowship/rest/peace with Him.

The key to overcoming the desires of the flesh is to walk in the Spirit. The obvious question becomes how to learn to walk in the Spirit. The answer is in submitting to Jesus as Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we submit, the Holy Spirit will produce good fruit in our lives—“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). Yielding to the desires of the flesh will result in lives that are characterized by the traits Paul identified in chapter 1.

Romans 1:26-32 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

This is not saying that the believer will never sin. It is saying that the believer will not practice sin as a way of life. “Walking” is a continuous motion usually toward an intended destination or with specific purpose. The one who truly loves the Lord will strive to do what Jesus said to do—he will walk in obedience to the Lord.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:

1John 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

The Holy Spirit convicts the believer of sin and the Father chastises the child He loves. The loving child will respond with repentance; and the loving Father always forgives the repentant child.

Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I had a note from somewhere that makes another important point regarding condemnation. If Christ does not condemn us, we have no right to condemn ourselves. I have had to go back to this principle many times. Satan knows our weaknesses, and one of mine is regret about my past. I have made many choices in the past of which I am ashamed. Satan loves to beat me up with my thoughts. I’ve learned to turn my thinking around to realize that I am belittling what Jesus did on the cross any time I allow the enemy to give me grief about something that has totally been covered by the blood of the cross. Jesus is sufficient; nothing I could ever do can add anything to what Jesus has already done for me. All I need to do is “stay my mind on Jesus,” and the enemy will be defeated.

Isaiah. 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

We shouldn’t waste time and energy grieving over the past. We should, instead, be motivated to use that time and energy to serve the Lord in love.

There is a lot of truth jam packed into this first little verse!