In Christ: There is No Condemnation
In Christ Jesus, you are redeemed and forgiven for all your sins. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”
Sin requires a penalty. Just like breaking the law requires a penalty. When we break the law, the penalty is usually dependent on the severity of the crime. The Bible says that the penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But when we are in Christ there is No Condemnation. He has taken the penalty for our sin upon Himself. His death on the cross paid the price for our sins. – 1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, – Romans 8:1
This verse comes on the heels of Chapter 7 where Paul shares his struggles about what it means to be a slave to sin. In verse 15 he says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” The life of sin is marked by confusion and conflict.
Being in Christ, Paul can now state that there is NO CONDEMNATION. Being In Christ is a place of confidence and peace. Since God the Father does not condemn Jesus, neither can the Father condemn those who are in Jesus. They are not condemned, they will not be condemned, and they cannot be condemned.
Joined to Him, joined to Christ, being “In Christ,” we hear the verdict: “no condemnation.”
The verdict is not “less condemnation.” Many believe they have Christ in their life as an improvement, it just makes us better being in Jesus. This is wrong thinking. It is not just an improvement to be in Christ, it’s a complete transformation. The Holy Spirit comes into our life to remake us, to transform us, not to just make us a little better. It is not just some magic ticket that we get to hold on to. It is a life transformation that takes place In Christ!
Our status has gone from the guilt of sin to that of no condemnation.
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“HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS” IN HIS BODY ON THE CROSS, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; “BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED.”
1 PETER 2:24
