Why There Is No Condemnation In Christ

by

A man came from Europe to this country in 1867. He became dissatisfied and went to Cuba when they had that great civil war there. Finally he was arrested for a spy, court-martialed, and condemned to be shot. He sent for the American Consul and the English Consul, and went on to prove to them that he was no spy. These two men were thoroughly convinced that the man was no spy, and they went to one of the Spanish officers and said, “This man you have condemned to be shot is an innocent man.” “Well,” the Spanish officer says, “the man has been legally tried by our laws and condemned, and the law must take, its course and the man must die.” And the next morning the man was led out; the grave was already dug for him, and the black cap was put on him, and the soldiers were there ready to receive the order, “Fire,” and in a few moments the man would be shot and put in that grave and covered up, when who should rise up but the American Consul, who took the American flag and wrapped it around him, and the English Consul took the English flag and also wrapped it around him, and they said to those soldiers, “Fire on those flags if you dare!” [D. L. Moody, Anecdotes and Illustrations of D. L. Moody Related by Him in His Revival Work, ed. J. B. McClure (Chicago: Rhodes & McClure, 1878), 147–148] That’s how it is in Christ. We were condemned by the law. But God, in the person of Jesus, wrapped His robe of righteous around us. And though we were condemned to be executed to a devils hell, yet because of Jesus we are sons of God on our way to heaven.

The Bridge Commentary consists of four sections: Definitions, Background, Comments and Questions. The Definitions section explains all significant Greek words found in all the verses of this passage. The Background section contains material which will help to frame the passage in it’s 1st century setting. The Questions section includes queries you may want to ask of the text. Finally, the Comments section contains observations of the verses sorted in word or phrase order.

 

 Click on this link for a flow diagram of this passage.

Epistle of Romans: Chapter Eight

Letter S

SUMMARY

Chapter Summary: Romans 8

The chapter has several ‘who/what’ we have ‘In Christ’ positional statements and interestingly no commandments.  The entire section includes what Jesus has done for us as well as information we need to access that finished work through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Section/Post Summary: James 1:5-8

Romans 8:1 is the grand conclusion to the previous seven chapters where Paul lays out his case for righteousness by faith apart from the works of the law.

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

open-book-elements-glossy-icon_fyRJ03UO

DEFINITIONS:

DEFINITION:

Verse 1

  • condemnation/κατάκριμα/katakrima – condemnation, punishment, penalty, sentence.
    • The word is a legal word not a ‘feeling’ word. It means judgment towards unbelievers and not bad feelings of conviction.  Judgment here includes all legal aspects containing the pronouncement of guilt as well as the penalty for the transgression. ‘There is, therefore now, no guilty verdict or death-sentence imposed upon those who are in Christ Jesus’.  This comprises a verdict we absolutely deserved  (Rom. 3:23).  Note, the scripture doesn’t say the believer possesses sinless perfection but that no judgment awaits him.
  • in/ἐν/en – in, one with, in union with, joined closely to.

ancient-scroll-paper_zJ_efA8O

BACKGROUND:

  • No background for this passage.

comments-elements-glossy-icon_MyMAThI_

COMMENTS:

COMMENTS:

  • ‘There is therefore…’
    • What in the World is Therefore There For?
      • Paul uses the important word ‘therefore’ to connect what he’s getting ready to say with what he already said in the previous seven chapters. Chapter breaks can disturb the flow of thought. We think because a new chapter number appears, a new thought appears with it. The Bible wasn’t written in chapters and verses1

         

        COMMENT: The word ‘condemnation’, meaning judgment, indicates that no judgment exists for those who are in Christ.  In other words, the believer will not face the ‘second death’ because Jesus died for us, or, took our place in His own death becoming a substitute for us.

         

        who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit –

        COMMENT: this phrase does not belong here.  The KJV was translated from the Masoretic text for the Old Testament and the Textus Receptus text for the New Testament.  The Masoretic text, composed by the Masorites, dates between the 10th and 11th century.  The Masorites were Jewish scribes trying to correct the errors in the Hebrew text that had occurred during the Babylonian captivity.  The Textus Receptus was a printed version of the New Testament and not hand written scribal copy.  The Textus Receptus (Latin for ‘received text’) dates from the 1400’s (the first printed Bible, the Vulgate went to press in 1465).  These manuscripts were used as the basis for the translation of the Bible on into the 20th century.  Since the discovery of these texts, earlier dated manuscripts have been found.  As churches received copies of the New Testament, scribal copies were generated for distribution.  One such discovered manuscript, the Alexandrian version or Egyptian version, a text peculiar to that area, dates around 500 A.D. and the Western Text, which circulated in Italy and North Africa, dates between 400 and 500 A.D.  Neither of these earlier manuscripts show this phrase “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” as part of verse one.  Additionally, there exists more proof of this misplacement than the textual evidence.  Theologically, the phrase would produce difficulty in its Masoretic setting because verse one, as already stated, holds a positional reality (as do the next two verses) whereas the phrase ‘who walk not after the flesh’ encompasses a ‘here and now’ or ‘walking out truth’ statement (not what we have in Christ alone but what we have in Christ walked out in real life) which extends down into verse 8.

        COMMENT: see 1Corinthians 3:1-3 for teaching on Carnality and the Flesh or Sin Nature.

        [1] Positional ‘In Christ’ truths or ‘What Happened to You the Day You Were Saved’.

         

        In Him – Positional Truths:  There are 149 such scriptures in the New Testament.
        In Christ  – Romans 3:24, 8:1, 8:2, 12:5, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1:30, 15:22, 2 Corinthians 1:21, 2:14, 3:14, 5:17, 5:19, Galatians 2:4, 3:26, 3:28, 5:6, 6:15, Ephesians 1:3, 1:10, 2:6, 2:10, 2:13, 3:6, Philippians 3:13–14, Colossians 1:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 5:18, 1 Timothy 1:14, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1:13, 2:1, 2:10, 3:15, Philemon 6;   In Him – John 1:4, 3:15–16, Acts 17:28, 2 Corinthians 1:20, 5:21, Ephesians 1:4, 1:10, Philippians 3:9, Colossians 2:6, 2:7, 2:10, 1 John 2:5, 2:6, 2:8, 2:28, 3:3, 3:5, 3:6, 3:24, 4:13, 5:14–15, 5:20;  In the Beloved – Ephesians 1:6; In the Lord – Ephesians 5:8, 6:10;  In Whom (KJV)  – In Him (ESV) – Ephesians 1:7,1:11, Colossians 2:11;  In Whom – Ephesians 1:13, 2:21–22, 3:12, Colossians 1:14, 2:3, 1 Peter 1:8;  By Christ – Romans 3:22, 5:15, 5:17–19, 7:4, 1 Corinthians 1:4–5, 2 Corinthians 5:18, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 1:5, Philippians 1:11, 4:19, 1 Peter 1:3, 2:5, 5:10;  By Him – 1 Corinthians 1:5, 8:6, Colossians 1:16, 1:17, 1:20,  3:17, 7:25, 13:15, 1Peter 1:21;  By Himself – Hebrews 1:3, 9:26;  By His Blood – Hebrews 9:11–12, 9:14–15,  10:19–20, 1 John 1:7;  By  Whom – Romans 5:2, Galatians 6:14;  From Whom – Ephesians 4:16, Colossians 2:19;  Of Christ – 2 Corinthians 2:15, Philippians 3:12, Colossians 2:17, 3:24; Of Him – 1 John 1:5, 2:27, Through Christ – Romans 5:1, 5:11, 6:11, 6:23, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Galatians 3:13–14, 4:7, Ephesians 2:7, Philippians 4:6–7, 4:13, Hebrews 10:10, 13:20–21;  Through Him – John 3:17, Romans 5:9, 8:37, 1 John 4:9;  With Christ – Romans 6:8, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:20, 3:1, 3:3;  With Him – Romans 6:4, 6:6, 8:32, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Colossians 2:12, 2:13–15, 3:4, 2 Timothy 2:11–12;  By Me – John 6:57, 14:6;  In Me – John 6:56, 14:20, 15:4–5, 15:7–8, 16:33;  In My Love – John 15:9;  In His Name – Matthew 18:20, Mark 16:17–18, John 14:13–14, 16:23–24, 1 Corinthians 6:11

         

        These positional truths categorize like this:

        1. We were justified and made righteous – Rom. 3:22, Rom. 3:24, Rom. 5:17-19, 1 Cor. 1:30, 2Cor. 5:21, Phil. 3:9, Gal. 2:16
        2. We are filled with the fruits of righteousness – Phil. 1:11
        3. We have redemption and forgiveness – Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14
        4. We are free from judgment – Rom. 8:1
        5. We are free from sin – Rom. 8:3, 1Jn. 3:5, 1Jn. 3:6, Col. 2:11, Heb. 1:3, Heb. 9:26
        6. We are part of the body of Christ – Rom. 12:5
        7. We have His wisdom – 1Cor. 1:30, Col. 2:3
        8. We have access to the abundance of His knowledge – 1Cor. 1:5, 1Cor. 4:5
        9. We have an abundance of utterance – 1Cor. 1:5, 1Cor. 4:5
        10. We were sanctified – 1Cor. 1:30
        11. We were anointed – 2Cor. 1:21, 1Jn. 2:27
        12. We always have the victory – 2Cor. 2:14
        13. We have revelation concerning the New Covenant – 2Cor. 3:14
        14. Our spirits are re-created in Christ 2Cor. 5:17, Gal. 5:16

        We have been reconciled to God – 2Cor. 5:18, 2Cor. 5:19, Eph.
        2:13, Eph. 3:6, Col. 1:20

        We have salvation – 2Tim. 2:10, 2Tim. 3:15, Eph. 1:7, Heb.
        7:25

        1. We have a ministry of reconciliation – 2Cor. 5:18
        2. We have liberty in Christ – Gal. 2:4
        3. We are related to God – Gal. 3:26, Eph. 1:5

        We have been joined into one race of men – Gal. 3:28, Eph.
        1:10

        1. We are free from the Old Testament Law – Rom. 7:4, Gal. 5:6

        We have every spiritual blessing available to us – Eph. 1:3,
        2Cor. 1:20

        1. We have all our need supplied – Phil. 4:19

        We have spiritual authority over the devils, demons, and evil
        spirits – Eph. 2:6

        1. We are God’s handiwork – Eph. 2:10
        2. We have been called to a high calling – Phil. 3:13-14, 2Tim. 1:9
        3. We are mature in Christ – Col. 1:28, Col. 2:10 (CHECK THIS!)
        4. We are resurrection material– 1Thess. 4:16

        We have access to His grace – Rom. 5:15, 1Cor. 1:4, 1Tim.
        1:14, 2Tim. 2:1

        We have access to the faith of God and the love of God – 2Tim.
        1:13, 2Tim. 3:15, 1Jn. 2:5, 1Jn. 5:14-15, 1Peter 1:21

        1. We have a living hope – 1Peter 1:3
        2. We have good things in us – Phm 6
        3. We have zoe eternal life – Jn 1:4, Jn. 3:15-16, Acts 17:28
        4. We are chosen ones – Eph. 1:4
        5. We have the ability to walk out positional truth – Col. 2:6
        6. We are rooted and built up – Col. 2:7
        7. We have the capacity to walk as Jesus walked – 1Jn. 2:6
        8. We have the same truth in us as in Him – 1Jn. 2:8
        9. We abide in Jesus – 1Jn. 2:28, 1Jn. 3:24, 1Jn. 4:13, 1Jn. 5:20
        10. We abide in the Father – 1Cor. 8:6
        11. We are created by Him and for Him – Col. 1:16
        12. We consist by Him – Col. 1:17
        13. We are accepted and loved – Eph. 1:6
        14. We are light – Eph. 5:8
        15. We are strong in Him – Eph. 6:10
        16. We have an inheritance – Eph. 1:11
        17. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit – Eph. 1:13
        18. We are God’s building – Eph. 2:21, 1Peter 2:5

        We can worship God – Col. 3:17, 1Thess. 5:18, Heb. 13:15,
        1Peter 2:5

        1. We are a holy priesthood – 1Peter 2:5
        2. We are inhabited by God – Eph. 2:22
        3. We have access to God the Father – Eph. 3:12
        4. We have a relationship that spans past the human part of life –
          1:8
        5. We reign in life – Rom. 5:17-19
        6. We are called to glory – 1Peter 5:10

         

        1. . Men added that later for reference sake.  So, it’s not chapters or verses that we look at but thoughts.  The thoughts leading up to this ‘therefore’ include righteousness by faith (chapter 3) and its effect peace with God (chapter 5). In chapter 6, we have identification with Christ resulting in a release from the law and its demands.  So consequently because we are made and declared righteous and because we are identified with Him, ‘therefore’ there is no condemnation or judgment for us.
  • …now…
    • What Does ‘Now’ Mean?
      • Generally, ‘now’ means now that we have salvation, ‘now’ that we have received Jesus as our personal Savior and have become members of the family of God, ‘now’ that Jesus has died and risen again.  Specifically ‘now’ means ‘now’ that we have been justified and have peace with God (Romans 5:1). ‘Now’ that we have been crucified with Him and the body of sin annulled (Romans 6:6). ‘Now’ that we have died with Him (Romans 6:7).  ‘Now’ that we are divorced from the law (Romans 7:6).  ‘Now’ that I am free to serve the law of God (Romans 7:25).
  • …no condemnation…
    • You Are No Longer Guilty
      • ‘There is, therefore now, no guilty verdict or death-sentence imposed upon those who are in Christ Jesus’.  This comprises a verdict that we absolutely deserved for all have sinned (Rom. 3:23).  It should be noted the scripture does not say the believer possesses sinlessness or perfection but that no judgment awaits him.
    • ‘No’ Really Means ‘No’
      • The word ‘no’ is a very simple word yet very powerful word.  The word, in the Greek language, carries emphasis.  Emphasis means it holds the first position in this verse.  Greek grammar does not function like English grammar in that nouns and verbs are known by their case endings and not by their sentence placement.  Translating this straight over into English you would have, ‘‘NO therefore is there any condemnation…’ If we add a few words to convey the sense, you get, ‘No way, can there be any condemnation. Or as the Wizard of Oz said to Dorothy, ‘not no way, not no how’.
  • …to them which are in Christ Jesus…

 

QUESTION: Why does no condemnation exist to those who are in union with Christ Jesus?

ANSWER: Because verse one contains a positional truth.  It speaks of what we have ‘in Christ’ or what we have because of Christ’s substitutionary work.  The New Testament has some 140 of these types of scriptures.[1 ↩

Related posts:

No related posts.