No Condemnation
Pastor Arthur Wilkerson
To stand free of condemnation is and should be a wonderful thing. As a Christian, to have the joy of knowing that one is free of condemnation, to know that there is not a judicial decree or determination of guilt that’s been handed down on me is a reason for joy deep down in my soul. I have this unspeakable joy because there was one to pay the penalty for me; one who with out stretched arms on the Cross of Calvary, welcomed all who would believe on Him and the one who sent Him. I am justified, sanctified and not condemned; redeemed and reconciled, not turned away; loved and not hated and I’m written into the eternal will of God as heir with the one who paid price for me, Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Paul in chapter 7 of Romans verses 15-24 is speaking to saved people. He is showing the struggle between the two natures of man; the Adamic nature and the divine nature. The Adamic nature is that nature we are born with, for we are born in the likeness or image of Adam (Gen. 5: 3) which is the nature of sin, defilement, fallen and corrupt. The divine nature comes by the will of God (John 1: 12-13) through faith in and confession of Jesus to righteousness, this is given to all that believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, they shall be saved. This is not the new birth but the righteousness of God reckoned to all that by faith come to God by Christ Jesus. (See Ro. 3: 21-26) Note: Faith is not regeneration (Also see Gen. 15: 6 “first mentioned principle”) The new birth (born again) is that which Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about (John 3: 3-6), this is the baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit and the regeneration of our spirit, He gives the power to resist the laws of sin and death in our members and puts us “in Christ”. (If you will, a babe in the things of the Kingdom of Heaven)
So, here we have Paul in this epic human battle of Good and Evil; the Law of God which he delights in and would love to do, but does them not and the Law of Sin and Death that he does. This is like the rest of us, only he admits; “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Ro. 7:24) If we would but only admit that we are wretched and in need of help, truly wanting to live the laws of life in our hearts and not give in to the lures of the laws of sin, then we to can say “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.” (vs 25) not understanding that …”the flesh lusteth against Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh ; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Gal. 5: 17) This is that epic battle that goes on our inward parts. This is the law of the mind finding a law, even the laws of God to justify the sin of our members (flesh, my will and desires). Note: Ex: you can do that, it’s really not a sin and anyway you have grace and God has to forgive you. He tells us to forgive, so he has to forgive me. Even the mind that wants to keep the law of God that’s in the regenerative process debates and loses this battle, because the law has no delivering power. Yet, …”shall we sin; because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (Ro. 6: 15)
Now, to those of us that are not perfect and are guilty of the above reasoning of finding a law to meet the need of the flesh, Paul continues in Chapter 8 to remind us that we have help and that we too can “thank God for Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the mediator that sits on the right hand of God the Father interceding for us, repentance and praise are the avenues to forgive and faith that God will answer prayer is the stairway to the tower of right standing again with God, when, after sin has beset us or trials have overcome us and we finally realize that it is not in us, we like Job can say …”I know that my redeemer lives” (Job 19: 25) Paul said, “There is, therefore now (no condemnation) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Ro. 8: 1) (Most commentators agree that the last 10 words in vs 1 were taken from vs 4)
How would He know there is no judicial guilt leveled against him had he not come through, the Holy Spirit bearing witness that victory in a sinful “Episode of Life” is conquered. So, he is saved from condemnation “…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2: 8). As one commentator (MH) puts it, the true believer, that is, one born again by the in filled regenerative power of the Holy Spirit will feel ashamed, convicted and be chastened of the Lord, but “not condemned” with the world (II Cor. 11: 32). Herein lies the difference between one that is “in Christ” the condition and “no condemnation” the promise and one that is not “in Christ” and condemned with the world. One has conviction that brings him/her to repentance with a godly sorrow (II Cor. 7: 10) and a turning from sin; the putting to death of that sinful episode through faith by grace and by the indwelling Holy Spirit the power of God and our helper. Without the Holy Spirit we only have remorse, maybe, for the sinful episode and no power to resist the flesh, but left with the finding of a law to ease of sinful conscience. For those who confess Jesus only to imitate Him in the flesh or religion sake without power, Satan comes and finding sin, lures one because of their own lust and multiplies it.
When I think of one being “in Christ and the conviction by the Holy Spirit, I think of John chapter 14 and 15. Jesus in chapter 14: 30 says “…the prince of this world cometh and has nothing in me…”. This is an intimation of the sinless nature of our Christ. We on the other hand are battling the sin nature daily and when the prince of this world comes he does find in us “..,the works of the flesh…” (Gal. 5: 19-21). Note: “and they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.(Gal. 5:24-25) So then, Jesus tells us, those that are “in Him” are in the Processes of Salvation. He says…”I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15: 1-2) Note: God is the tender of the vineyard, the whole earth and all that is in it. He sees and knows all that is in everyone. Those that confess and profess Jesus, God knows the intent, the motives of the heart. “…The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good…” (Prov. 15: 3; Psalms 34: 15; I Peter 3: 12). After all we are God’s husbandry, workers together with God. It is God that “taketh away every branch that does not bear fruit”. What fruit? Fruit’s that look like Jesus, fruits of holiness and righteousness, not the fruit of one’s own imagination and labor mixed with the rudiments of the world. (The recognized Principles of the World), this includes the gods and idols of old like Balim, Baal and Ashtoreth. (vs2 cont.) “…and every branch (those with and without the infilling of the Holy Spirit) that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Let’s look further at “taketh away” (we’ll need an understanding of this when we talk about grace, confession and profession in God’s economy of “no condemnation” and the condition of being “in Christ” (Ro. 8: 1) “Taketh” , Greek airo (ah-ee-ro) is a primary verb; to lift; by implication to take up or away; fig. to raise. Confessing and professing the declaration of one’s faith, the open acknowledgement of the same justifies us, puts us “in Christ” as righteous before God and now the doors of the School of Grace are opened (the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand) before us. God as the husbandman sets the courses of our Christian lives; remedial classes has started; and the “Epic Battle”, the fight for my eternal soul, has begun. While we were in the world and in darkness, no sin was really revealed or acknowledged, but now the light of God’s Word shines deep within our souls showing up the works of the flesh and the lust thereof. This sin nature has to be cleansed of the defilement and corruption, so that the life giving waters can began to flow, bringing nourishment to the fruit planted by God the husbandman(See Isa. 60: 21; 61: 3). On the one hand He lifts us up, taking us away from the muck and mire of sin and the world as we’re grafted into His Son, Jesus, putting us in position to grow, and cleanses us, calling us His righteousness. He then purges us, cutting away the parts that rotten, bruised, corrupted and defiled. He ties us to the Cross that we may grow out and up. He bides us to abide. To always look up toward the hills which comes all of our help. Now, on the other hand, those that refuse to obey and abide, staying tied to the Cross, after a while as they become sliden down toward the muck and the mire of the world (backslidden) He cuts them near the graft, having mercy upon them and leaving hope through repentance so that new sprigs of righteousness might grow up, stronger from the experience of Love from Him our Father. After all God is “…married to the backslider..” (Jer. 3: 14) “The Lord is Not Slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3: 9) And “…there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus…”; “…if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Ro. 8:9) (All Scripture is taken from the Old King James Bible)
UNITED FAITH MINISTRIES, INC. 