Romans 8:1 - No condemnation

This is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, but probably one that we do not fully appreciate. Indeed, if we did fully appreciate it our lives would be so much richer in terms of being more Christlike. So we do well to study the chapter and seek to gain greater understanding. It has been pointed out that there is not a single imperative in the chapter, ie no direct commands. Instead it is about the new reality of life in the Spirit, and in the early parts about how the old way of life needs to go. We also need to appreciate that it all part of all that has gone before, especially the stuff in chapter 7.

There is now no condemnation. The condemnation of the old life applies in two ways. First there is the guilt and the fact that we are deserving of punishment. Then there is the condemnation we can experience as a result of chapter 7. Sometimes we sin out of lust or greed. We set out to sin and we sin. We may feel guilty at the end of it, but we knew what we were doing. That is bad enough and brings condemnation. But then, as described in chapter 7, we may decide we want to turn from our sin, we may decide that we want to do right, to be rid of our sin and do good. Then we find this terrible law at work in us, the law of sin (7:22) and instead of doing good we do more evil. This brings further condemnation, not just the guilt, but the condemnation of realising our utterly depraved state. In Christ we are set free from both these forms of condemnation. Through the blood of Jesus we are declared righteous, the price of our sin has been paid in full upon the cross. And through the Spirit we are enabled to live a new life, a life pleasing to God. It is this latter point that Paul is now focusing upon.

This freedom from condemnation applies to those who are in Christ. This is more than an intellectual assent to the gospel, more than an emotional response. We are in Christ, and He in us. We were united with Him in His death, and in His resurrection.