“Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. 2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son],” Romans 8:1-2 AMP

According to the Scripture I am no longer condemned and required to suffer the consequence of my action or sin. The word condemnation here is the Greek word meaning both guilty verdict and the following punishment. It means that a guilty verdict automatically brings the most severe penalty. In our case it means death! We read in in the book of Romans that,

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 AMP

Here we are told that death is the penalty for our sin but, there is an option presented, “…but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There is only one way out of the penalty of our sin, the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ in my place. You see that sin is a legal issue. God is just and as so must fulfill the reequipments of justice. While accepting the finished work of Christ didn’t mean that forgiveness was simply given. Taking our place, He suffered the penalty and judgment for our sin bearing our punishment thereby removing our guilt. His death provided the necessary satisfaction for God’s justice and holiness. This is the central point of the “Good News” of God’s salvation! So while we were guilty of sin, we are not condemned! The book of Isaiah tells us that,

“But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him]. 5But He was wounded for our transgressions, 

He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. 6All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].” Isaiah 53:4-6 AMP

Knowing that His time had come Jesus in the garden prayed to His Father saying,

“Now My soul is troubled and deeply distressed; what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]’? But it is for this [very] purpose that I have come to this hour [this time and place].” John 12:27 AMP

While all of this is true, it is available only to those who have surrendered to Him! Look at the words in our opening verse “…for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].” The Apostle Paul told the Ephesians,

“This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ]. Ephesians 3:11-12 AMP

Have you freely and openly approached the throne of grace today? No need to fear God’s judgement as it was satisfied at the cross of calvary! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken