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

No Condemnation! Study Note on Romans 8:1

(Note: in Romans chapter 8, verse 1 must be read in context with the rest of the chapter to get the best and fullest understanding of the great doctrine of the believer's assurance in Christ. We have assurance of salvation, only as long as we are both in Christ and walking in the Spirit. - see Romans 8:1-10)

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

It literally says in Greek something like this, "None therefore now sentence of condemnation those 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 a legal term and means to be judicially sentenced to condemnation.

The word "therefore" indicates a conclusion drawn from what has already previously been explained, specifically, that one is justified by faith in Christ Jesus apart from works of the law (Rom 3:28). If a man or woman who is united to Christ by faith is freely forgiven of all sin (Rom 4:7-8), as well as freely granted the perfect righteousness of God as a gift (Rom 3:21,24), it must be concluded then that there cannot be any condemnation for them. It is not possible to condemn anyone whom God has justified (Rom 8:33), and all who are united to Christ Jesus by faith (trusting faith resulting in obedience from the heart) are completely justified and therefore free from condemnation. "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:39). Praise be to our wonderful God!

Romans 6:14 Notes

For sin will have no dominion over you (literally: be Lord over you), for you are not under law but under grace.

My literal translation of Romans 6:14:
"Sin for you people* will not be lord, for you are not under law but under grace."
(* "you" is plural.)

Sin will not be the ruler or slave master over Christians any longer. Why not? Because they are not under the law but under grace, which means that Christians are not subject to the law of commandments (Eph. 2:14-16), but are rather given freedom from it through God's abundant grace in Christ Jesus our Lord. The reason for this is that Jesus Christ has abolished (or more lit. "disemployed, put an end to") the law of commandments expressed in ordinances by His death on the cross (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14). Sin rules where the law is in force. The reason sin has dominion where the law is in force, is because it can only bring forth death using the law when the commandment is violated and the penalty of the law is put into charge. The law pronounces death on the one who sins (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12). Therefore anyone who sins is under the just penalty of the law, which is death and condemnation. So in this way, sin is lord, because it keeps bringing forth death where the law is in charge, since it by nature violates God's laws (1 John 3:4).

Grace is not so. Grace sets us free from the law by providing sufficient payment through the death of Christ. Jesus fulfilled the law and met its requirement of death for all who are justified by faith. Therefore sin is rendered powerless to kill, since the law has been satisfied already by the death of Christ on behalf of believers, and so the Christian cannot be brought under it again. That is why sin is not lord of the Christian, because it cannot make the Christian guilty under the law anymore. The reason for this is because the Christian is counted righteous by faith in Christ Jesus, and is therefore no longer under the law but is set free by the grace of Christ.
(See also Matthew 3:15, 5:17; Romans 3:24-26,28, 4:15-16, 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:21, 3:13,24,25; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18).

The very next verse following Romans 6:14 is vitally important:
"What then, do we keep sinning because we are not under law but under grace? It will not happen!" (Romans 6:15).

Faith vs. Works? My Morning Meditation on Galatians

[I was reading this morning, and the following thoughts came to my mind, so I turned them into a post.]

In the letter to the Galatians, Paul used some strong, strong language to warn them about trusting in a work's (law) based salvation. At the end of chapter four, after he explained the difference between the two covenants - how one is of the flesh but the other is of a promise, one is for slavery and the other for freedom, one is from below while the other is from above, one is born of the flesh and the other born of the Spirit - he then ends with these words, "But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." So brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman." (Galatians 4:30-31 ESV).

So we see that all who are of the flesh, and who remain under the covenant of works-righteousness (law) for salvation, cannot be heirs with those who are of faith. It is only the children of the promise who are saved. Paul's point has become clear by this section of his letter, which is that salvation is only by faith in Christ. Faith unites us with Jesus, and it is in Christ Jesus alone where we find eternal life (1 John 5:11-12). As long as anyone continues in a course of works-based righteousness, they will never attain to the righteousness that leads to eternal life, which is given freely only to those who believe in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 3:21-24). Christ died, was buried and rose again on the third day making sufficient atonement and satisfaction for all the sins of those who trust in God through Him. It is only through His Person and His work that we are reconciled back to God the Father. There is no other way for sinners to be justified and reconciled to God for eternity.

I was once exhorted to remember Paul's own words in the beginning of chapter five: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery [works-righteousness]" (Galatians 5:1 ESV). We ought to also know and understand that faith does not free us to live any longer in sin, but rather it frees us to enjoy living by God's grace through faith which always works through love (Ephesians 2:8,9,10; Galatians 5:6).

Grace and peace be multiplied to all who find their righteousness and rest in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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In Hope He Believed Against Hope

Abraham was a 'hopeless case.' He was almost 100 years old, and his wife was only ten years younger than he (Romans 4:19), and God had promised them a child who would generate the greatest nations on earth (4:17). Abraham's offspring was to be heir of the world (4:13). But Abraham and Sarah were "as good as dead" (4:19). He could not produce seed, and her womb was dead and barren. Sarah couldn't help but laugh at the thought of having a child (See Genesis 18:9-15). Yet God had said, "I have made you the father of many nations," and "So shall your offspring be." (Romans 4:17,18). So God promised, and that settled it for Abraham.

"He did not weaken in faith when he considered the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised." (Romans 4:19-21 ESV, emphasis added).

Abraham believed in God's word. God said it, and so it was to be - 'amen' in Hebrew. "That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." (4:22). "In hope he believed against hope." He believed in God who raises the dead and calls things into existence out of nothing (4:16). (Yes, God does those things, just look at His creation and see all that came into being when there was nothing to start with). YAHWEH is a miraculous God, who makes impossibilities possible. "Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:2-3).

"But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:23-25). What was counted to him? It was the righteousness that comes by faith apart from works of the law (Rom. 3:22,28). It is a free gift. "For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be garunteed to all his offspring." (Rom. 4:15-16a). Abraham was not a righteous man, he was a sinful man. But by faith in the promise of God (faith in Christ), he was counted to be righteous. We are guilty under the law, fully deserving the wrath that it brings. But by faith in him who raised Christ our Lord from the dead, we also will be counted righteous in Him! Wow! Amazing! Awesome! I can't find the right words to describe the joy that comes with this blessedness (4:6-8).

That is why it says, "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6). Amen!

Law vs. Grace

"Run, John, run. The law commands

But gives neither feet nor hands.

Better news the gospel brings;

It bids us fly and gives us wings."

- John Bunyan

That's grace.