Eternity Daily Bible Study: No. 533 Romans 1-8 - A Righteousness That Is By Faith Verses: Romans 8:1-2 Topic: There Is No Condemnation Date: 31st October 2005 Romans 8:1-2 ASV There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. When you see a "therefore" you have to ask what it is there for! It is pointing back to Romans 7 and the fact that our sin nature, the flesh, is a temporary aberration and is not part of our true eternal selves in Christ Jesus. Our sin nature will not be with us in Heaven. So Paul was able to say "It is not I who sin, but sin that dwells in me." (Romans 7:17,20,21). If it is not Paul who is sinning, then it is not Paul who is guilty, and therefore Paul is without condemnation! Paul is also without condemnation because he has "died to the Law". The Law brings condemnation and death, but Paul is dead to it, and all its convicting power, so Paul is not condemned. What Paul applies to himself can be applied to every Christian. If we are in Christ, then we are freed from guilt, condemnation, and spiritual death. In fact God defends us from every charge that is brought against us: Romans 8:33-34 MKJV Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he condemning? It is Christ who has died, but rather also who is raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. The Christian lives by another law, by a new set of spiritual dynamics called "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus". This law is based on grace operating through faith on behalf of the repentant believer. When someone decided to give up sin and follow Christ then God washes away their guilt and condemnation so that it no longer exists. We are called into a fellowship of believers who have given up sin and desire holiness. The Spirit of Life is based on the power of the resurrection and works life out of death. It takes someone who is "dead in trespasses and sins" and makes them alive in Christ. Ephesians 2:4-7 MKJV But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (5) (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), (6) and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, (7) so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:13-14 MKJV (13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (14) blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Thus the law of the Spirit of Life operates in the contrary direction to the law of Sin and Death which takes a person who is alive and condemns them bringing spiritual death. Romans 7:9 MKJV For I was alive without the law once. But when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. So the Spirit of Life brings life from the dead, and brings righteousness out of sin and guilt. Just as God brings order out of chaos, He can bring life out of death and righteousness and holiness out of sin and iniquity. This means that no one is so messed up, so chaotic, so dead in trespasses and sin, that God cannot reach down and bless them and bring grace into their life and free them from all guilt and condemnation. The apostle Paul does not want Christians to go around feeling guilty all the time. Christians who feel guilty all the time have not realized they are free from the law and from all obligation to perform to a certain high standard. Their Christianity is still focused on their performance and their spiritual achievement rather than on God's love and grace working in their lives. When the Spirit of Life comes to work in our lives the focus shifts to the changes that God is working in us as we are transformed from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:16,17). We sense God is at work in us in a powerful and good way. We know the energy of God within us, doing things that are impossible for man, but which are very possible with God. That which is sinful and deserving of condemnation is simply placed on the cross. It is dealt with by the work of Christ. We do not have to struggle with it in a complicated morass of sin and guilt. Rather we rely on God to change and transform us day by day. When the Christian stands before God, he hears "I love you so much!" and he does not hear a word of condemnation, of any sort, ever. When Paul says "there is no condemnation" he does not mean "there is a little bit of condemnation" - rather he means there is NONE, zero, nought, nothing, none at all, none whatsoever, zip. While the Bible indicates variations in reward, it never indicates any condemnation of any sort exists for the born-again believer. In fact the Bible tells us that God "justifies" the born-again Christian, giving them a status of someone who is completely OK in God's eyes - just as if I'd never sinned. The born-again believer is OK in God's eyes, is granted citizenship in Heaven, and access to the throne of grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). John's gospel tells us that this happens when we are believe in Christ and are born-again: John 5:24 MKJV Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior then you have passed from death to life and you shall not come into condemnation. Rather you shall inherit eternal life! Blessings, John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph) REFER OTHERS: If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily bible study. 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