Romans 8:1-4 | No Condemnation!
Experiencing the Resurrection Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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One of the most joyful moments we will experience in life is through the receiving of good news. What is the best news you’ve ever received? I can think of many scenarios.
Being notified that you’ve been awarded a full ride scholarship to the school of your choice.
Being offered a new job or receiving a promotion at work
Hearing a doctor say, “Cancer is in complete remission”
Getting engaged. “She said, yes.”
Announcing the birth of a child. “It’s a boy! or “It’s a girl.”
Immigrants hearing, “Your Green Card has been approved.”
These are few examples of what good news look like. Today, I want to share the best news you will ever hear in your whole life.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Some might object. This is not good news. This is more like imposed religious guilt to make us feel bad about ourselves. Would’t be better off if we simply got rid of the idea sin and guilt and embrace the goodness of humanity?
We’ve tried and it doesn’t work. Let me give one example I found in Tim Keller’s book, Counterfeit Gods.
Beatrice Webb was an activist in Britain in the late 19th century.
She built Britain’s modern welfare system.
I found it fascinating that she moved away from Christianity b/c she saw it as negative and pessimistic.
Near the end of her life, Beatrice Webb wrote,
Somewhere in my diary—1890?—I wrote “I have staked all on the essential goodness of human nature. . . .” [Now thirty-five years later I realize] how permanent are the evil impulses and instincts in man—how little you can count on changing some of these—for instance the appeal of wealth and power—by any change in the [social] machinery. . . . No amount of knowledge or science will be of any avail unless we can curb the bad impulse.”
It’s not working. There is something seriously wrong with us.
“No amount of knowledge or science will be of any avail unless we curb the bad [evil] impulses [and instincts].
The gospel addresses this head on. I just one verse we hear the greatest news ever told: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:1)
In order to understand this better, let us look at a word that appears in v.1: Condemnation (Gk, katakrima)
The noun (Condemnation) appears only in three places in the whole NT. Katakrima appears in Romans 5:16, 18; 8:1.
What makes Romans 8:1 such good news? Condemnation is like hearing “incurable cancer.” The gospel of JC is the ultimate cure.
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” (Ro. 5:12)
“For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.” (Ro. 5:16)
“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (Ro 5:18)
Morris Evangelical Free Church is part of the EFCA, Evangelical Free Church of America.
The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around ten theological convictions:
Article 3: The Human Condition
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.
What Paul is saying in Romans 5 and Romans 8 is that Christ removes the curse that came to all people through Adam’s sin.
“This is the legacy of the sin of Adam, a legacy which theologians call the fall. The sin of Adam corrupted God’s good creation and unleashed the power of sin and death in the world, and this has affected us all.” (Evangelical Convictions)
Someone once said, “We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.”
The gospel of JC alone addresses our deepest need.
Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
"The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man." (John Stott)
Three significant truths with life-changing implications
1. There is now no condemnation
1. There is now no condemnation
We no longer fear that our sin will ever condemn us.
Notice what comes before “no condemnation.”
God declares, “no condemnation” RIGHT NOW! Not something in the future when you get your act together. Not someday when you die, but RIGHT NOW there is no condemnation.
What happened to our sins?
*Take a look at the cross. All of our sins were taken by him. All of them! (Tetelestia)
Romans 8:3 “3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,”
This verse reveals that Jesus stood condemned in my place. This also referred as the Great Exchange.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there, who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died, my sinful soul is counted free,
For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.
Now God looks at you and declares you, “Not guilty.” NOW!
This is the gospel — the gospel literally means “good news.” Our sins are placed on Christ and his righteousness is laid on us. Here’s the crazy thing, the only way to receive this is not by works, so that no one may boast. Rather,
Ephesians 2:8 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
2. For those who are in Christ Jesus
2. For those who are in Christ Jesus
This reality of “no condemnation” can only be enjoyed by a particular group of people.
It is for those who are in Christ Jesus.
What does it mean to be in Christ?
“When we are in Christ, every part of Christ’s life, not only his death, has significance for us. We share in his life and obedience, his death and his resurrection, even his ascension! We participate in another’s victory. All that is his becomes ours.” — Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God by Rankin Wilbourne
Galatians 2:20 “20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
The opposite of those who are in Jesus are those who are “cut off from Christ” (Rom 9:3).
Which group are you a part of? Are you “in Christ” or “cut off from Christ”? Are you free from condemnation or under condemnation?
3. I have been set free by the power of the Holy Spirit to experience the resurrection life.
3. I have been set free by the power of the Holy Spirit to experience the resurrection life.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
We don’t have to wait after we die to experience the resurrection life. Because we are united to Christ; because we are In Christ, we can experience the resurrection life now. We’ll look at what that looks like the rest of the sermon series.
For now, I want you to hear that God wants to do an amazing work of transformation in your life everyday of your life. Not just on Sundays.
You and I have been set free from condemnation and also from the power of sin and death. We’ve been set free because someone else took our place.
Let me share a story to conclude this message and also as a way to prepare our hearts to partake of communion.
On Good Friday we remember the day when Jesus was crucified and died for the sins of the world.
Hours earlier:
Jesus was arrested and taken for trial.
Jesus was presented before Pilate for trial. No guilt was found in Jesus.
Jesus was then sent to Herod. Once again, no guilt was found in Jesus.
Jesus is sent back to Pilot to be tried a third time. Here’s what Pilot said regarding the charges: “…after examining [Jesus] before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.” (Lk 23:14-15)
Pilot concluded, “I will therefore punish and release [Jesus].” (Lk 23:16)
The crowd was not happy. This is not good for Pilot.
Pilot was at that time the Roman governor over Jerusalem. He did not have a good relationship with the Jews. Pilot’s job was probably in jeopardy. Let’s just say that Pilot already had two strikes with his superior. The Jews are about to riot if he releases Jesus. A third strike might put Pilot out of work as governor of Jerusalem.
What to do? Lightbulb! It’s the Passover.
There is this tradition where the Roman Empire would allow one convicted criminal to go free and the Jews could choose who this person would be.
Matthew 27:15–17 “15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. (“a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.” (Lk 23:19)
17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
You see how smart Pilot is, “I found a win-win situation. I’m going to put forward the worst criminal in our jail roster, a convicted terrorist, blood-thirty murdered. They will have no choice but to release Jesus.
Pilot asks the crowd, “which of the two do you want me to release for you?” (Matt 27:21)
The crowd picked Barabbas the murdered over Jesus the funeral crasher who brings the dead back to life.
On Good Friday, Jesus took Barabbas’ death and Barabbas was granted the freedom that Jesus deserved. This is called the Great Exchange.
Do you ever wonder what went through Barabbas’ head on Good Friday. Think about it for a minute. He is under condemnation, sitting on death row waiting for execution for his crimes. He knew exactly what awaited him: crucifixion.
Perhaps he can hear the crowds from his cell: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” He probably thinks, “The day to get what I deserve is here.”
The guards come for him, get him out of his cell, but then the most amazing thing happens, he is set free! He is no longer bound by chains. The charges against him are gone. The murdered is set free!
I’m sure Barabbas was confused for a minute until he sees Jesus being dragged away, beaten and flogged, forced to carry his cross. The very cross that Barabbas should carry. Jesus took his condemnation and death while Barabbas was granted freedom.
We are all Barabbas. You and I stand under the condemnation of God. We are sinners by nature and by choice. We sit in a spiritual prison bound by chains of sin and death. We are helpless and hopeless waiting to face the Righteous Judge of the universe who will give us what we deserve.
But the good news (gospel) is that “For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21)
How do we get a hold of this? Repent of your sin and trust in Jesus to set you free from you sin.
Look at the cross! Jesus took upon himself what we deserve and I get his righteousness.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)