The Reality of the Promise Romans 8:1

Introduction

Romans chapter 8 and more specifically verse 1 is said by theologians to be the most hope filled verse in all scripture. An incredible and unfathomable truth is given to us, but not before explaining mankind predicament before God. In truth, there is total condemnation on every descendant of Adam. We didnt start there but we are all familiar with the chapters of Romans. Chapter 1, Gentiles are condemned. Chapter 2, Jews are condemned, Chapter 3 everyone is condemned. The extent of this condemnation is so deep that the only punishment worthy is to be confined to the torture of hell forever. Up until now, Paul has not shyed away from that truth. If one is to appreciate grace, one must understand guilt. Because of sin, and how it infects all of us, Hebrews 10:27 tells us that a certain fearful judgement awaits us, a fiery indignation which shall devour its adversaries. Because of sin mankind is cursed, as Paul said in 1 Cor 16:22 “22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema” Because of sin, we are separated from a Holy God and are at war with him. Because of sin, we are slaves to it from birth. But, because of Christ, Salvation is now offered to all those that will humbly repent and place their trust in his deliverance. Because of Christ, we are delivered from the power of sin, ransomed as it captive and made servants of God. And now, because of Christ, although condemnation justly rested on us, now, No Condemnation is placed on them who are in Christ Jesus. This is the promise of the believer. This is the true hope which liberates and invigorates the soul to service. That inspite of our shortcomings, in spite of our sins, all those who are in Christ have zero condemnation on them. In explaining to us the content of the promise there are 4 aspects that Paul explains. 1. The Reality, 2. The Reason, 3. The Route, 4. The Result. To begin we’ll be examining “The Reality of the Promise”. Lets read our verse and jump into it. Rom 8:1

The Reality of the Promise I

Romans 8:1 KJV 1900

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

“Therefore”

What is the Reality of the promise given to us? Firstly I’d like to point your attention to the the word therefore. As we all know, the simplest hermaneutic, whenever you see therefore, you must understand that whatever proceeds is tied in connection to the previous thoughts. Its a verbal bridge of sorts. However, i’d propose to you that this “therefore” isnt attempting to connect the previous verse directly to this one. It would seem illogical that right after Pauls lamenting of the internal struggle of sin, that that would lead him to conclude that believers “therefore” are no longer under condemnation. Instead, this is a significant break in the epistle, a changing of gears. Chapters 1-7 offer us the teaching of complete condemnation for humanity, and the salvation afforded it by Grace through Faith in Christ alone. He begins the change in theme by announcing like a herald heralding the message of the King, that for Believers, there remains no Condemnation for them. Again, in spite of the fact the we have fallen short of the glory of God, and that we are worthy and fit for hellfire judgement, but because of the death of Christ, believers have entered an eternal place of justification.

“Now”

“Now” as seen in our text, “at this present time” if you would. This release from the condemnation of sin is a present reality for all true believers. This is not something to come. This is not a spiritual level of eradication of sin that only then are you free from condemnation, this was the current, at the very second upon his conversion, reality of the thief on the cross, and this is right now the reality that you are in if you have been saved through Christ. All of the sins you’ve commited and even the ones that you havent yet commited, have all been accounted for and paid for by the Lord Jesus. Abraham lied about his wife, we know that David commited Adultery, and Peter denied the Lord, even your Sunday School teacher has wound up in the Newspaper, twice, for his sin of forgetting to renew his registration. Christians, can and do sin, and while we will suffer the consequences, we will never suffer the condemnation, and that is true right “now.”

“No Condemnation”

Continuing on in defining The Reality of the Promise, Paul says “No Condemnation” , Ouketi-katakrima. Examining no first, Ouketi. Ouketi is an emphatic negative adverb of time and carries the idea of complete cessation. Condemnation, or Katakrima is the punishment or the penalty following the sentencing or the act of condemning. So when you combine the two your met with a total, unilateral cessation from the penalty of our condemning, which is death, and which is hell. Jesus gave us a parable of servant who owed the King a vast amount of money. Turn to Matthew 18:23-27

Matthew 18:23–27 KJV 1900

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

This servant owed the King 10,000 talents. Some of us dont even have one lol. A talent was a measurement of money, and it was the largest denomination of currency, so saying 10,000 talents was really just saying and infinite incomprehensible debt was owed by the servant to the king. Just consider, if you worked on a farm, you got a single one for the whole day. So by those standards were talking approx 28 years of work if you work every single day. When the servant approaches the King, worships him, doesnt make excuses for his debt but takes responsibility for it, the King is moved with compassion and completlely forgives and looses him from the debt. Similarly for believers, we owe a vast, incomprehensible sin debt to God, a debt that we can not pay, and when we humbly approach the King in Contrition without excuses, He forgives us and looses us completly from our debt. He totally and unilaterally ceases to hold us culpiable for the penalty of our sins, and God doesnt stop there, but this culpability extends beyond the sins of the Past but goes ever forward eternally and covers all of the sins of the future, thus leaving us without any condemnation at any time, here and now at this present moment. No Condemnation. This forgiveness is the heart of the Gospel, and this reality from the condemnation of sin extends even into the future with such promises as 1 John 2:1-2.

1 John 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

So now, having been completely forgiven of all our sins by God, we never ever have to have any fear of being put under divine condemnation under any circumstance. As Paul said in Rom 5:10 “10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” I know the chapter divisions arent inspired, but the truth of this reality is essentially the foundation for the entire chapter. Even towards the end Paul poses these rhetorical questions of If God is for us who can be against us? Who can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? In other words, if the highest authority has decreed, No Condemnation, who can alter that decree. This is a wonderful, encouraging promise in our verse, and it is the reality of the promise. Secondly we see The Reason for the Promise. Rom 8:1-2

Romans 8:1–2 KJV 1900

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The Reason for the Promise II

As mentioned before the free gift of forgiveness and remission from complete condemnation is offered to those who by faith come to Christ seeking forgiveness from their sins, and it is to them alone that complete justification is granted. The exoneration from the condemnation is given to them who as the text reads “are in Christ Jesus”. You would recall that we discussed many moons ago what that term means, to be in Christ. A Christian is someone who has been as Rom 6 stated baptized or immersed into Christ. Its someone who doesnt just put on Christ outwardly as a form of identity, but someone who internally loves the Lord. 1 Cor 15:22 puts it in this way“22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” We are all physical descendants of Adam, and because of sin, all of his descendants die. Because of our union and immersion with Christ, we have become a part of the Family, we have been adopted, and because of that immersion into Christ we are free from Condemnation. Pressing on we are presented with a term “Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”. Some translations and commentators exclude this term because it isnt found in the earliest manuscripts, but regardless if it was actually written or not the principle is there, The Christian, the one who is Christ Jesus, does not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Some argue that this creates an unnecessary qualification to the free gift of grace. And perhaps if you read it that way, but id say theres no foul so long as you understand this to be definitional in nature and not a pre-requisite. The pardon from condemnation is strictly and solely given to those who by faith receive Christ, and thus are placed in him. And if you have been placed in Christ lol you are not walking after the flesh right? That is impossible to do both. So I interpret that to be definitional and not a prerequisite. Now lets read the verse in its entirety as we move on, Rom 8:1-2 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” V2, Paul begins by saying For, which can be understood as Because, leads us directly into the second point, the Reason for the Promise. What is the reason for our exoneration from condemnation? Because the Law of the Spirit of Life hath made us free from the law of sin and death. We see two paradoxical laws presented. The use of the word Law has nothing to do with Mosaic but as used in chapter 7, to represent a binding principle of truth. The Law or Principle of the Spirit of Life frees us from the Law or principle of sin and death. It free’s us from the cause and effect of sin and death. Sin is the cause, and death or condemnation is the effect. So what does Paul mean by the law of “the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus”? This is in reference to the Holy Spirit. One commentator said this with regard to “the Law of the Spirit of Life”. The law of the Spirit of life is the forceful and effective operation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of God’s children. It is the very opposite of “the law of sin and death,” for which see in Rom 7:23, 25. Just as the law of sin produces death, so also the law, or ruling factor, of the Spirit of life brings about life. It is the Holy Spirit who bestows and energizes spiritual life in the person who places his trust in Christ Jesus. Paul could not be talking of any spirit but the Holy Spirit, because only God’s Holy Spirit can bring spiritual life to a heart that is spiritually dead. While the principle of sin brings death, the principle of the Spirit brings about new spiritual life, and ultimately one day a physical life. Look at Titus 3:5-6.

Closing

We’ve begun the theme shifting chapter of Romans 8 and we’ve examined this tremendous truth of our freedom from fear of condemnation. We looked 2 of the 4 points, the first being the Reality of the Promise, secondly the Reason for the promise, next time we’ll study the Route of the Promise, and ending with the Result of the Promise. Lets close in Prayer.