A Broke Evangelist

November 15, 2024

Romans 8:1

No Condemnation Through Life in the Spirit 

“1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” 

This is going to be a short review, regarding the number of verses, but Romans 8:1 is one of the most important verses in a very important chapter.

It comes at a good time since I’m still reeling from my new medications and focus is hard to come by when you’re under the weather. Although I’m still convinced that it was mostly from being around sick people at the doctor’s office.

But even if it’s one verse but I think this is a one verse worth spending a special amount of time on and I made it worth my while. So, let’s take a look at Romans 8:1…

Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Here’s the bottom line: There is now no condemnation. It’s a simple yet powerful declaration for those who are in Christ Jesus. Why? Because God the Father doesn’t condemn Jesus, and if we’re in Him, we’re in the clear too. No condemnation today, no condemnation tomorrow, and no condemnation ever. It’s not just wishful thinking—it’s a rock-solid promise. We can rest easy because we’re covered! 

Paul’s use of the word “therefore” isn’t just a casual transition—it’s a statement with weight. It comes after the last verse in the last chapter of Romans, which was a place of confusion and conflict, where in verse 7:25b, where he says, “So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” So even though we have a sinful nature, we now have a segue into the spiritual law that keeps us in God’s favor. No matter what, we can’t lose. If not, it would be like being on a winning team and the coach says, “everyone’s a winner, except you!” That wouldn’t be fair, would it? But God is fair, all the time!

There is one more thing we should take a moment to consider, which is the flip side: if we’re not in Jesus Christ, condemnation is still on the table. Now, it’s not a subject that we’re thrilled to talk about, as it’s not exactly the feel-good message of the day. But we don’t get to pick and choose what’s in the Bible. Our job is to pass on what God has already made clear in Scripture. But the reality is that if we’re living outside of Christ and chasing after the desires of the flesh, we haven’t escaped condemnation. The good news is that there is an open invitation to step into Jesus’ grace. So, we don’t need to stay under the weight of condemnation when freedom is just a step of faith away.

One more thing: When I look at Romans 8:1 in the King James Version (KJV), I noticed an extra phrase: “who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” Now, before we start overthinking, we need to break it down. Paul’s point is crystal clear either way. He’s saying that believers in Christ walk by the Spirit, and it’s easy to tell that they do because they have the Spirit of God living in them (Romans 8:9). Even if that extra phrase wasn’t in the original manuscript, the same idea pops up in Romans 8:4 and 8:9. Walking by the Spirit and being in Christ are two sides of the same coin. In other words, “no condemnation” isn’t conditional—it’s the gift that comes with being in Christ.  And here’s the best part: once you’re in Christ, nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39). Not other people, not circumstances, and not even us. When Paul declares that there’s now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, he’s laying down a promise we can take straight to the bank. Our position in Christ is secure, no fine print required! 

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 15, 2024

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