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IN CHRIST WE ARE FOREVER SECURE WITH CHRIST

Romans 8:1

Charles e Whisnant, November 06 2011

Romans 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,that we may also be glorified together.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope

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for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV)

1. There is No Condemnation2. Jesus Christ Our Righteousness3. Live According to the Spirit4. The Holy Spirit Lives in you.5. Let by the Holy Spirit.6. We are Joint Heirs with Christ.7. The Gain is Worth the Pain.8. The Liberty of Deliverance.9. First fruits of the Spirit.10. We were saved for this.

Back in 1984 I started Romans chapter 8 and had 20 messages. First Baptist Church, Altoona KS

We now come to the thorough deliberation of this chapter eight: Well as much as possible today.

Three ministers went fishing one day, all friends who pastored different churches in the same town. While they were fishing they began confessing their sins to one another. The first pastor said, “Do you know what my big sin is? It’s drinking. I know it’s wrong, but every Friday night I drive to a city where no one knows me and go to a bar and get drunk.” The second pastor said, “Well fellas, to be honest with you, I’ve got a big sin too…mine is gambling.” Finally it was the third pastor’s turn: “Guys, I probably should have gone first because my big sin is gossip…and I can’t wait to get back to town!”

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“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

This is one of the greatest statements of the Scripture, of the most important for Christians experience and for spiritual health and even physical health and our well-being as Christian believers.

This is the GOOD NEWS, it’s the way of Saving Faith in Jesus Christ. This is the heart and soul of the Christian gospel.

All that Paul has said in Romans thus far, this verse is a summing up of the great argument about justification.

Why: “Therefore there is…”

The word “therefore” serves to tie the proceeding seven chapters with chapter 8 by serving as a link to everything that Paul has established. In the original this is very emphatic, indicating that what he is about to say is extremely important. It can be translated this way: “So, then, consequently.” I’ve picked just one verse from each of the first seven chapters to remind us where we’ve been…

1. Romans 1:18 : “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

2. Romans 2:5 : “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”

3. Romans 3:12 : “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

4. Romans 4:13 : “It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.”

5. Romans 5:18 : “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.”

6. Romans 6:11 : “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

7. Romans 7:24 : “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

When: “Now…”

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For the born-again believer there is assurance that there will be no judgment to come in the future but I want you to notice that we can and should experience this assurance right now in the present. Therefore there is today no condemnation. If you are redeemed then right now, at this very moment you are secure. One pastor put it this way: “No condemnation means there is neither judgment from God on me, nor annoyance with God with respect to me—neither on the last day nor today!”

Now we’ll add just one word to the phrase we’ve already learned: “Therefore, there is now…” Say it with me.

What: “No condemnation…”

The word “condemn” comes from two Greek words; one which means “down” and the other which means “to judge.” Literally it means to “judge down” and was used of the Roman emperor as he sat on a throne when prisoners were brought before him. As he heard their cases he would either “judge down” or “judge up.” I wonder if that’s where we get the “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” expression. Friend, if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus as you sacrificial substitute, the Almighty Judge gives you a “thumbs up.” God won’t “judge down” because He sent Christ to “come down.” The judgment we deserved settled on the Savior and now God’s blessings “rain down” on us. God has a gavel of grace for the believer as He pronounces this verdict: “No condemnation – you are now a saint, not a sinner; you are not unrighteous because I have declared you righteous.”

The elect of God, those whose name has been written down before the foundation of the world will be saved. And not only will they be born again, they will be kept saved. How? There is NO condemnation brought against them. Every believer in Christ Jesus will be saved forever. Becaue God has declared the saved person saved, and free from the curse of the Law.

You can fall, but you’re not condemned. You can struggle, but you’re not condemned. You can stray off the path, but you are not condemned because God has said He will not condemn those who are in Christ Jesus.

God is not going to discard any believer because of struggling in life.

Listen every “Christian” NOW and for ever will never be brought into condemnation. There is no kind of act whereby a Christian can get himself in that he will be so judgment as to lost his salvation.

Your POSITION, your standing with Christ, your status with Christ, can never again come under condemnation. You can’t be brought under sentence, conviction, disapproval, blame and you can’t be censure again for your sin.

Listen you get this in your brain, you mind, your thinking. Don’t let the devil put past sins in your head and mind and allow it to bring you down in your spirit. You should never feel or believe you will again be under the curse of the Law. Do not allow yourself to feel it.

Listen if the devil comes to you and tries to convict you, and to make you feel that you are condemned, stand up and say, “THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.”

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Most of Christian’s trouble with life is to allow themselves to believe that due to some sin they have committed in the past, 10 years ago that somehow they are put back under condemnation. WRONG.

In this sense you cannot “fall away.” In this sense there is “no falling away,” from grace. It cannot happen. NO CONDEMNATION” IS JUST THAT. It is an absolute word, How many preachers are trying to detract from it.

Theologican call this doctrine: “The Final Perseverance of the saints.”

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Okay you may ask, “Who does the Apostle Paul say this, and on what grounds does he say it?

“Wouldn’t it be a dangerous thing to say? “Will it not incitre people to sin?” “Are we more or less telling Chrisitan that they are free togo out and sin?” “Will those who we see in sin now are they still saved.”

Paul preached and taught this doctrine: and quess what they said to him: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace might abound?”

True gospel preaching is always gong to liable to be misunderstood at first.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS toia en Christo lesou

We need to ask: ‘WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? 1. The Christian says someone, is a man who had decided Christ, the Christian is a man who has

decided to go in for the Christian life, decided to join the church? The Christian one who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and so his sins are forgiven?

2. Well, those are good and true, but it is not a true definition of a Christian.Okay what is a good definition of a Christian?

Paul gives us one good definition: “A Christian is one who is “in Christ Jesus.”

When God justifies an unbeliever while he is still ungodly, God not only justifies a person but he puts him “IN CHRIST”.

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When God starts a work in us, He completes it.

God’s act of justification is the basis of our final assurance, of our absolute certainly that we can never again come under condemnation, and that God will complete His work in us until we are glorified and entire and complete.

IF YOU ARE ‘IN CHRIST’ you will remain there. “There is no separation” remember.

So what does it mean “IN CHRIST”?

Jesus gives us an illustration in John 15:1-17 Jesus Is the True Vine.

Paul uses 1 Corinthians 12:27

Our being in Him, drawing life out of Him in a way that every part of my body is dependent upon my head. Such is our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ.

HOW DOES THIS PROVE IT? Paul tells us in chapter 6. Verses 1-6 (read) Again in 7:1-4. We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. Folks that seals your relationship as a Christian to the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christ has risen to this new life with God, in all His perfection, so my union with Him guarantees that I shall eventually be perfect, I shall be glorified, I shall be “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” Jude 24 is true.

It is not how I feel it is what God says, He seems me in Christ risen, forever beyond the reach of condemnation.

(A FOOTNOTE: It is however worth noting that deliverance from divine condemnation does not mean deliverance from divine discipline.

Martin Luther said

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"It is impossible for a man to be a Christian without having Christ, and if he has Christ, he has at the same time all that is in Christ.

What gives peace to the conscience is that by faith our sins are no more ours, but Christ’s, upon whom God hath laid them all; and that, on the other hand, all Christ’s righteousness is ours, to whom God hath given it.

Christ lays His hand upon us, and we are healed. He casts His mantle upon us, and we are clothed; for He is the glorious Savior, blessed for ever...

.Faith unites the soul with Christ as a spouse with her husband. Everything which Christ has becomes the property of the believing soul; everything which the soul has, becomes the property of Christ. Christ possesses all blessings and eternal life: they are thenceforward the property of the soul.

The soul has all its iniquities and sins: they become thenceforward the property of Christ. It is then that a blessed exchange commences: Christ who is both God and man, Christ who has never sinned, and whose holiness is perfect, Christ the Almighty and Eternal, taking to Himself, by His nuptial ring of faith, all the sins of the believer, those sins are lost and abolished in Him; for no sins dwell before His infinite righteousness. Thus by faith the believer’s soul is delivered from sins and clothed with the eternal righteousness of her bridegroom Christ."

Robert Haldane in his classic commentary on Romans comments on the wonderful phrase "in Christ Jesus" writing that...

To be in Christ Jesus is to be one with Him, as united to Him by faith. Those and those only who are the one with Him are the persons to whom there is no condemnation. All who are not in Christ Jesus are under the law and its curse.

It is not here said that Christ is with His people, or at their right hand, but that they are in Him, in order that they may know that, being in Him, they have nothing to fear; for what evil can reach those who are one with the Son of God?

This union is represented in Scripture by various terms and by many similarity; its effectiveness and power are shown, when it is said, “He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit.”

It is in virtue of this union that the sufferings and obedience of Christ are imputed to His people, they being one with Him who fulfilled the law, and satisfied the justice of God.

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Their union with Him is the source of that spiritual life by which they are quickened together with Christ, and from which they derive their justification, their sanctification, and consolation.

“It is impossible,” Luther remarks, “for a man to be a Christian without having Christ, and if he has Christ, he has at the same time all that is in Christ. What gives peace to the conscience is, that by faith our sins are no more ours, but Christ’s, upon whom God hath laid them all; and that, on the other hand, all Christ’s righteousness is ours, to whom God hath given it. Christ lays His hand upon us, and we are healed. He casts His mantle upon us, and we are clothed; for He is the glorious Savior, blessed for ever.”

This union was typified under the law in the person of the high priest, who carried on his breast the twelve stones, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; so that, when he appeared before God, all the people appeared in him, thus showing that all believers are before God in Jesus Christ, their great High Priest.

They are all delivered from condemnation, as being one body with Christ. As the debts of a wife must be discharged by her husband, and as, by her marriage, all her previous obligations are at once transferred to him, so the believer, being married to Christ, is no longer exposed to the curse of the law. All its demands have been met and satisfied by His covenant Head, with whom, as the wife is one with the husband, so he is one. Chapter 7

It is by the human nature of Jesus Christ that we enjoy union with His Divine nature, and that He is Emmanuel, God with us. His humanity is the medium by which His divinity communicates itself with all its graces.

Under the former dispensation, God communicated with His people through the ark of the covenant, which was a type of the human nature of Jesus Christ, in order to show us that by it we have union with the whole of His person. And by union with the person of Jesus Christ we obtain communion with the Father. “At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”

It is not by nature that we enjoy this union, since by nature we are “children of wrath” and “without Christ.” The means by which we are united to Christ are on His part by His Spirit, and on our part by faith.

He communicates His Spirit to us, which is as the soul that unites all the members of the body with the head, so that “he who is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit.” On our part we receive Jesus Christ by faith produced in us by His Spirit, in order that we may equally receive Him in our hearts. He dwells in our hearts by faith; and thus we learn what is meant when it is said we are justified by faith, not as being a work, or anything meritorious, but as the medium through which His righteousness, and all the graces and blessings that are in Jesus Christ, are communicated to our souls.

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“Faith,” says Luther,

“unites the soul with Christ as a spouse with her husband. Everything which Christ has, becomes the property of the believing soul: everything which the soul has, becomes the property of Christ. Christ possesses all blessings and eternal life: they are thenceforward the property of the soul. The soul has all its iniquities and sins: they become thenceforward the property of Christ. It is then that a blessed exchange commences: Christ who is both God and man, Christ who has never sinned, and whose holiness is perfect, Christ the Almighty and Eternal, taking to Himself, by His wedding ring of faith, all the sins of the believer, those sins are lost and abolished in Him; for no sins dwell before His infinite righteousness. Thus, by faith, the believer’s soul is delivered from sins, and clothed with the eternal righteousness of her bridegroom Christ.

O happy union! The rich, the noble, the holy Bridegroom takes in marriage his poor, guilty, and despised spouse, delivers her from every evil, and enriches her with the most precious blessings. Christ, a King and a Priest, shares this honor and glory with all Christians.

The Christian is a king, and consequently possesses all things; he is a priest, and consequently possesses God; and it is faith, not works, which brings him all this honor. A Christian is free from all things, above all things, faith giving him richly all things.”

On account of this union, all believers bear the name of Christ, being that of their Head. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all

baptized into one body,” 1 Corinthians 12:13 .

“We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones,” Ephesians 5;30).

And in this Epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle denominates the Church not only the body of Jesus Christ, but even His fullness. God “gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all,” Ephesians 1:22. He thus shows that this union with Jesus Christ is such that He who filleth all things would consider Himself without His people to be imperfect and incomplete. (Haldane, R. An Exposition of Romans. ca 1839

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THEREFORE, THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST

1. If you were raised in a religious environment that has caused you to be filled with guilt and shame even today we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

2. If you’re struggling with sin and your failures cause you to fall short, may I remind you that these words come right after Romans 7:19: “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing.” Listen to this message from God, fellow sinner: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

3. If your memories of what you did in the past are paralyzing you, we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

4. If your memories of what someone else did to you in the past are haunting you and eroding your self-image, we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

5. If you’re struggling with sickness and have begun to think that God is somehow paying you

back for your sins, we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Having said that, 1 Corinthians 11:30 does indicate that some have gotten sick, and some even died, as a result of taking communion in an unworthy manner: “That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.”

6. If you see your problems as punishment from God, we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Note: God does discipline us but it’s because He loves us as we’re reminded in Hebrews 12:7-11. There is no condemnation but there may be some consequences. There is no doom for the believer, but there is often discipline.

7. If you find yourself thinking that God is angry with you and out to get you, we say to you:

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

8. If someone around you is condemning you and putting you down and you think you are worthless, we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

9. If your relationships always seem to rupture and you feel like no one cares, we say to you:

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

10. If your children are breaking your heart and you feel like it’s all your fault , we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

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11. If you find yourself falling continuously short when you compare yourself with other Christians, we say to you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

12. If Satan is accusing and condemning you as he will because he is the accuser, tell him that he has nothing on you: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

EXTRA FOOTNOTES

Intro: Have you ever noticed that there is a difference in a person who has trusted Jesus as their personal Savor? Have you noticed that they think different, they act different, they walk and talk different? The reason this is true is that they have been invaded by a Being from another place. At the very instant of salvation, the child of God is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:13. When He comes in, He does so to abide with that new believer forever, John 14:16-18. When the Spirit of God comes into a life, that life is forever changed! This the essence of our being made a new creature, 2 Cor. 5:17. It is this life in the Spirit that is the focus of this eighth chapter of Romans.

The Deliverance Of The Spirit Life.

I. V. 1 DELIVERED FROM THE SENTENCE OF SIN

A. A Promise - This verse reminds us that when we are saved, we are saved from the wrath of God. No longer are we lost sinners living under His condemnation and doomed to an eternity in Hell, John 3:36; Eph. 2:1-3; Psalm 9:17. When we come to Jesus by faith, we are delivered from the threat of divine retribution and are delivered from the specter of Hell, John 5:25.

B. A Place - Note the words "In Christ". Jesus is the One Who makes all the difference. You can be in the church and die lost. You can be a good neighbor and die lost. But, when you are in Jesus, you are saved to the uttermost and fully secured from an eternity in Hell, Heb. 7:25; John 10:28; 1 Pet. 1:5. Jesus is the ONLY refuge for the soul of man! He is the only safe harbor where we can find salvation, forgiveness, hope and everlasting life. To know Him is to be a partaker of life eternal, 1 John 5:12.

C. A Proof - Some people tell us that this last phrase shouldn't be in our Bibles. They say it is a translation error and that it is not found in the "best Greek manuscripts." Well, it is found in the best English manuscript and we must deal with it! http://www.sermonnotebook.org/romans/Rom%208_1-4.htm