No Condemnation
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"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1
Few Christians appear to live up to their privileges. Perhaps they do not fully understand them; and yet they are clearly revealed in God's word. Let us turn to that word, and endeavour to learn from it what our privileges are. Let us take the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, and seeking the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit, endeavour to understand its meaning, enter into, and enjoy its contents.
Paul had given an outline of his own experience in the former chapter, stating the conflicts and inward trials he had to endure. But he did not close it in gloom—but gladness, exclaiming, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Then, notwithstanding all he had said of his inward conflicts, on the ground of what he had before stated, he says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh—but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).
The Privileged State.—"no condemnation." There may be affliction, deep, sore, and complicated affliction. There may be temptations, terrible and distressing temptations. There may be fears, alarming and terrifying fears. There may be sins, yes, there are sins, for there is no man that lives and sins not. Yet, "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
Yes, men may condemn us, as they did the apostles and primitive Christians. Satan may condemn us, as he is ever ready to do. Even conscience may condemn us, and it will, unless we daily bring it to the blood of sprinkling. Still, "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
This is the privilege of every Christian, and of every Christian at all times; for however our feelings may vary, or our frames may change—our state remains the same.
What, then, is condemnation? To be condemned, is to be doomed by the just Judge to be punished, to be punished for sin, and according to the desert of sin. Such condemnation, to the sinner out of Christ, is just and righteous, and the punishment awarded must endure forever.
Condemnation is for sin in general; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." So that every sinner is under the curse, and as such is doomed to suffer—to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.
But, under the gospel, condemnation is for unbelief in particular, as our Lord said, "He who believes not, shall be damned." And again, "He who believes on him is not condemned; but he who believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
Thus there is no escaping condemnation—but by faith in Christ. Every unbeliever is condemned—condemned already—and is only respited for a time. But every believer is justified—justified now—and justified forever.
There is also another cause of condemnation specified—enmity to Christ, or the lack of love to him: "If any man loves not the Lord Jesus Christ—let him be accursed when the Lord comes." So that, let a man be ever so moral, or amiable, or attentive to the services and ceremonies of religion—yet if he does not believe in Jesus, if he does not love the Saviour—then he is condemned already.
The punishment to which all such are condemned, is the loss of a kingdom. "The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." When believers are invited to come and inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world, these will be commanded to depart from the presence of the Judge, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels! The kingdom is lost, the punishment is merited, the sentence is pronounced, and the doom is dreadful. Upon such, the wrath of God will be poured out without mixture, and without end.
From this all who are in Christ are delivered; they are therefore said to be waiting for God's Son from heaven, even Jesus, who delivered them from the wrath to come. They are not only delivered from the wrath of God—but they are justified and made heirs of God. "According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Their justification is through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made sin for us, though he knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Therefore the apostle says, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Our sins were imputed to him, the curse of God alighted on him; in consequence of which we are invested with his righteousness, and receive the blessing of the Most High God.
On the ground of the Saviour's undertaking, follows the gospel grant, as Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, He who hears my word, and believes on him who sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." Believing, eternal life is ours; condemnation is removed at present, and prevented for the future; we are passed from death, and are privileged to live forever.
And now, in justice to the work of Christ, to fulfil and render good his word, as well as out of his boundless mercy, God exempts from condemnation every believer in Jesus. To such, not one cause or ground of condemnation remains; every sin is blotted out, every demand of the law is met, every accuser is silenced, and the just God is the justifier of him that believes in Jesus.
"There is therefore now no condemnation," though our graces are imperfect, though our services are faulty, though the conflict within is severe, though Satan and the world do their worst against us, and though in many things we all offend—still there is no condemnation. To us the promise belongs, "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord; and their righteousness is of me, says the Lord."
The Privileged People. They are described by their state: they are "in Christ Jesus." By the eternal decree of God, they were appointed to be one with Christ, as their head, representative, and surety. By the operation of the Holy Spirit, they are taught their need of Christ, are led to Christ, and are united with Christ. By the faith of the heart, they embrace Christ, venture alone on Christ, and become identified with Christ. So real, so close, so lasting is the union, that the members of the human body are not more really, closely, or durably united to its head, than are believers with Christ; we are therefore said to be "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."
They are also described by their character: "who walk not after the flesh—but after the Spirit." By "the flesh" we understand corrupt nature, or nature as corrupted, debased, and depraved by sin. By "the Spirit" we understand the new nature, which is produced by the Holy Spirit, in our regeneration.
As it is written, "That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit." Man generated his like; and as he is corrupt, depraved, and wholly given to evil—so is that which he generates. So also the Spirit generates his like; as, therefore, he is holy, spiritual, and righteous—so is that which he generates.
The new creature, therefore, has two distinct, opposite, and antagonistic natures, which always oppose and hinder each other; as we read, "The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that you cannot do the things that you would."
Union to Christ not only gives life—but likeness, for Christ dwells in us; and the consequence is, that the life which we now live in the flesh we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us—which led John to say, "He who says he abides in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." Thus there would not only be life from Christ—but likeness to Christ.
In the Christian, there is a constant struggle for the mastery between the flesh and the spirit; Satan assisting the one, and the Holy Spirit the other. But in consequence of divine aid, the flesh is crucified, and its evil inclinations are resisted; so that, though at times the flesh will prevail—yet the general bent of the mind, and the general course of the life—is holy. We walk, or frame our course, not according to the corrupt inclinations of the flesh—but according to the holy and righteous inclinations of the spirit.
Still, there is often a desperate struggle, and we have at times to say with Paul, "To will is present with me—but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would do—I do not; but the evil that I would not do—that I do." The spirit will seek after God—but the flesh will wander from him. The spirit will strive to obey God—but the flesh delights to sin against him. The whole aim of the spirit is to please God—but the flesh is enmity against him. With such opposite and active principles in the same soul—how can we wonder if the conflict is sometimes desperate, or if victory hangs in doubt?
All outside of Christ are condemned, and are therefore miserable. For how can a man be happy with the sentence of death, eternal death, suspended over him! He may sleep and forget it—but when he awakes, he must be wretched.
All in Christ are safe, and therefore happy. For how can a man be really unhappy—if one with the Son of God, if justified in the sight of God, if possessed of everlasting life?
Let us therefore flee to Christ, if we have not; and cleave close to him if we have. Let us rejoice in Christ, as in our strong tower, as in our beloved husband, and as in our living head. All that Christ IS—he is to us; all that Christ HAS—he has for us; well, therefore, may we rejoice in him. Let us walk carefully and cautiously, not yielding to our fleshly inclinations—but putting off the old man with his deeds.
We should judge of men by the habitual bent of the will, and the daily course of the life. It is not individual acts—but habits, that correctly represent the man. If we want to know where a man is going—we notice the way in which he walks; if we want to know the society a man loves—we observe with whom he associates. Just so, if we want to know whether a man is a Christian—we must observe whether he imitates Christ; or if we wish to know whether a man is going to heaven—we must notice whether he chooses the way of holiness, which alone leads there.
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