Overcoming Condemnation

SCRIPTURE

Romans 8:1–4 NKJV

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.

MESSAGE

The War Between the Flesh and the Spirit

My Flesh is Sinful

Romans 7:18–20 NKJV

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

None of us are perfect.

Acting perfect in church is like dressing up for an x-ray.

I Want to Do Right

Romans 7:21–22 NKJV

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

We all have that desire within us to do right.

Mrs. Helton’s Kindergarten Class.

But I Battle the Flesh

Romans 7:23–24 NKJV

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

There is a Solution

Romans 7:25 NKJV

25 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.

Satan Uses Condemnation as a Weapon

Wood Chopping Chore

Condemnation

Being declared guilty.

Damnation.

Banishing to hell all those disobedient to the will of God.

Satan’s Lies

You have to constantly struggle to earn God’s favor.

Your past mistakes have disqualified you from serving God.

You have to make yourself worthy before you can come to Christ.

You should give up struggling with sin because you’ll never win.

God’s promises are not for you, they are for other people.

Condemnation Says:

God doesn’t love you.

God doesn’t care about you.

God won’t forgive you.

Tennis Ball and a Broken Window

The Day the Lizard Went Berserk

Punching Chris

Driving Across the Dam

Baby Joe and the 4-Wheeler

There is No Condemnation to Those Who are in Christ Jesus

Jesus Did Not Come to Bring Condemnation

John 3:17 NKJV

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

God’s Plan of Redemption Means No Condemnation to Those Who Trust in Him

Psalm 34:22 NKJV

22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Christ Has Delivered Us From:

The Penalty of Sin (1)

The Timing (Immediate)

That certainly ought to bring comfort to the hearts of all the saved. I am not trusting in something I hope will one day come to pass. I am resting in a present state of forgiveness and release from all condemnation.

As Jesus fulfilled the plan and will of God by giving His life for the remission of sin, He completely secured our redemption.

When one receives Christ as Savior in salvation, the condemnation of sin is immediately removed, never to be remembered or brought up again.

If you are saved, you are justified in the sight of God at this moment!

The Triumph (Justification)

We remain obligated to live a life that honors the Lord and bears witness of our conversion, but we no longer need to fear the righteous judgment of God. Christ bore the wrath of God as He endured His judgment on our behalf. Christ suffered in agony upon the cross so we could escape the judgment we deserved.

As we stand before God, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, we are viewed in light of the holiness of the Son. Rom. 5:18—Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Consider the thoughts of H.A. Ironside: What unspeakable relief it is to the bewildered, troubled soul, oppressed with a sense of his own unworthiness, and distressed because of frequent failures to live up to his own highest resolves, when he learns that God sees him in Christ Jesus, and as thus seen he is free from all condemnation. He may exclaim, “But I feel so condemned.” This however is not the question. It is not how I feel but it is what God says. He sees me in Christ risen, forever beyond the reach of condemnation.

The Transformation (Born Again)

Again we are reminded of the necessity of salvation. Being a good, moral person doesn’t cancel one’s debt in sin. Being baptized and joining the church doesn’t erase the guilty charges. Jesus stands as the only means of justification and acceptance to God. 1 John 5:12—He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The Power of Sin (2)

The Law of Sin and Death

Regardless of our race, social standing, or upbringing, every one born into this life is dominated by the desires of the flesh to sin. There is no hope of escape within our own ability. Naturally some show more signs of depravity through the activities they engage in, but all are dominated by sin apart from the saving grace of the Lord. Until one is freed from the bondage of sin, he remains a slave to the master of sin.

The Law of the Spirit of Life

Being in Christ does not remove us from all temptation to sin. In fact, we have discussed the presence of temptation and we know it remains as long as we live. The desires of the flesh are not removed from the believer, but we are given all we need to overcome and live sanctified lives in Christ through the Holy Spirit. Rom. 6:17–18—But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. [18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

The Practice of Sin (3-4)

The Tendency of the Flesh (3a)

We are reminded of the inadequacy of the law to save, based primarily on man’s inability to keep the law. Paul reminds us that we all have a tendency to sin. It is within our nature. God’s standard is absolute perfection in holiness, and we were unable to live good enough to obtain his righteousness because of the desire to sin.

John Phillips stated: It was not that God asked too much of man, for He can be satisfied with nothing less than absolute perfection. It was that man in the flesh simply could not and cannot live up to the claims of God’s law. The flesh desires to be satisfied, and that desire creates weakness by the flesh to measure up to God’s holy standard.

The Mercy of the Father (3b)

In His great mercy, He sent the only begotten Son, robed in flesh to bear our sin and deliver us from condemnation!

Where the law and flesh failed, Christ Jesus our Lord prevailed.

He made the way for us to be liberated from sin and condemnation.

The Victory of the Faithful (4)

The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us and we are declared righteous by the Father. Those who are in Christ are not the same as before. Our desires have changed. We no longer long to please the flesh, but to honor the Lord. Our eternal destiny was changed in salvation and our temporal walk is altered as well.

The saved man seeks to live in light of the righteous standard of God, in accordance with His Word through the guidance of the Spirit. What was impossible before has now become attainable in Christ!

God Uses Conviction, not Condemnation

Jesus Came to Convict, Not Condemn

John 16:8 NKJV

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Conviction Leads to Repentance and Forgiveness

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 NKJV

9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Not Today Satan!

You are not forsaken, you are forgiven.

You are not washed up, you are washed in the blood.

You are not condemned, you are justified.

ALTAR CALL