November 19, 2009

No Condemnation - Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 ESV

(Some manuscripts add the end of verse 4 after this: "who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.")

It literally says from Greek: "None therefore now sentence of condemnation them in Christ Jesus", which could be translated, 

"Therefore, there is now no sentence of condemnation* for those in Christ Jesus."

*The word for condemnation (katakrima G2631) is legal and means to be judicially sentenced to condemnation, to receive the death penalty.

The word "therefore" indicates a conclusion drawn from what has already been taught in all the chapters before this, specifically that one is justified by faith in Christ Jesus apart from works of the law (Rom 3:28).

A man or woman who is united to Christ by faith is freely forgiven of all sin (Rom. 4:7-8), freely granted the perfect righteousness of God as a gift (Rom. 3:22,24; 4:5-6,24), and therefore it must be concluded that there cannot be any condemnation for them.

It is impossible to condemn one whom God has justified (Rom 8:33), and all who are united to Christ Jesus by faith (resulting in obedience from the heart) are completley justified and totally free from all condemnation (see Acts 13:39).

Praise be to our wonderful God!















Picture by Lee Tomassetti, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 
Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

these days i have concluded that christians can't be rational creatures. you can say that, screwed up theologians, not god, have taken over the minds.

of course you will dismiss this because you are saved by grace so you,, blessed with sixth sense, can see ghosts. LOL.

btw, i am a believer of jesus and the bible but not..christianity :)

Penn Tomassetti said...

Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your comment. I have a question though. I would like to know from your perspective:

What do you think a Christian is?

Thanks,
Penn

"Yet if any suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." (1 Peter 4:16)