The Belfrey 9am Livestream - 21st January

No Condemnation in Christ

The Power of Romans

Romans has shaped the faith of millions throughout history. Three remarkable figures demonstrate its transformative power:

Augustine (386 AD) sat weeping in a friend's garden, trapped in sin and rebellion. Hearing children call "take up and read," he picked up a scroll and read Romans 13: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires." Through God's word, Augustine found the faith to commit his whole life to Jesus.

Martin Luther (1513 AD) was a monk tormented by his studies, fearing God's righteousness could only condemn him. Reading Romans, he discovered that "the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby through grace and sheer mercy he justifies us by faith." Luther felt reborn and walked through "open doors into Paradise." The Reformation began in his transformed heart.

John Wesley (1738 AD) attended a Bible study where someone read from Luther's commentary on Romans. As the reader described "the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ," Wesley later testified: "I felt my heart strangely warmed... I felt I did trust in Christ Christ alone for my salvation." He was born again that night in London.

Romans continues to transform lives today. Over the next four weeks, we will dig into Romans 8—arguably one of the most beautiful, enriching, and life-giving passages in all the New Testament.

The Context of Romans

Paul wrote Romans around 55–57 AD, likely from Greece during his third missionary journey. He was heading to Spain and planned to visit the church in Rome on the way. This letter established his apostolic credentials to a church he had not founded.

The Roman church was probably made up of Jewish Christians—some who had been at Pentecost in Jerusalem and returned home, filled with the Holy Spirit. The church was flourishing. Paul sent this letter to deepen their understanding of the gospel before his arrival.

The Journey Through Romans

Romans begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation, with no defeat in between. This is the journey we will take as we unpack Romans 8 over the next four weeks.

The verses we began with start with the word "therefore." Paul is saying he can prove what he just taught. He begins with the most foundational truth:

"There is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus."

Understanding Condemnation

What Does Condemnation Mean?

To condemn means:

• To express disapproval
• To sentence to death
• To declare worthy of destruction
• To declare unfit for use or purpose
• To prove someone guilty

In Scripture, the word used here (russō) means "to declare or make wrong." So this passage declares: there is none of that for us. There is no disapproval. No sentencing to death. No one declaring us worthy of destruction or unfit for purpose. No one proving us guilty.

This is the heart of the Gospel.

This truth made Augustine, Luther, and Wesley alive again. Each felt condemned by sin and death, and Romans opened their eyes to this reality: in Christ, there is no condemnation.

The Logic of No Condemnation

If we are one with Christ and he is our head, then we cannot be condemned—because he is not condemned.

As one theologian put it: "You can't drown a foot as long as the head is out of the water."

Jesus is no longer condemned because of what he did on the cross. He now lives in the victory he purchased for us. When God sees us, he sees Jesus. And he will not condemn us.

The Struggle: Feeling Condemned Despite Knowing Better

The Gap Between Knowledge and Experience

We all nod when we hear this. We know it is true. Yet often, this is not our internal monologue.

We often feel condemned. We feel guilty. We feel shame—even though we know in Christ we have received full pardon for all our sins.

The Lie of "Less Condemnation"

Some of us read this passage and think: "There is less condemnation for those in Christ Jesus."

We believe our standing through Jesus has been greatly improved. We think: "We're all right, but we've still got to go the rest of the way. We need to make ourselves worthy. We need to act so well that when God looks at us, he thinks: 'Yes, that one was worth it. They read their Bible faithfully. They never swore—well, except that one time when they kicked their toe.'"

We believe we still need to earn what Christ already gave us.

This is transactional Christianity. It makes what Christ did on the cross null and void because we are still endeavoring to do it in our own strength.

But Paul is clear: in Christ, there is no condemnation—not less, but none.

The Pitfall of Self-Condemnation

Another trap: we practice self-condemnation. We judge ourselves as continually and consistently unworthy. Many of us also judge others as unworthy of God's love.

Neither is acceptable.

When we are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation—for us or for others.

The Gospel Sounds Too Good to Be True

Many of us think: "The gospel sounds too good to be true. There must be a catch. I must do better to make sure I'm completely covered."

But the gospel is as good as it sounds and as easy as it sounds.

Our salvation has nothing to do with us. Our salvation has everything to do with him.

He was the only one who could do it, and he did it for us.

What Christ's Work Actually Accomplished

No Longer Separated by Sin

Sin is no longer a thing that separates us from God for eternity. We have not been merely improved; we have been completely and life-changing transformed by the power of what Jesus did on the cross.

Our status now reads: no condemnation.

We are in a position of confidence, peace, and life.

Yes, We Deserve Condemnation

Don't misunderstand: we do deserve condemnation. The moment we do anything wrong, the moment we step into the world, we deserve it.

But we receive our new standing because Christ bore the condemnation we deserved. He took it on himself so we no longer have to accept it.

All we need to do is put our trust in him, and we get that seal of approval. We are no longer condemned in Christ.

The Fullness of What We Receive

In Christ, we receive the full blessings of heaven. We can step into the kingdom of Christ not only when we die but here on earth.

Sin no longer permanently separates us from God. That doesn't mean we can do whatever we want or that sin has no consequences here on earth. Sin can temporarily separate us from God's blessings. But it cannot do that forever—because of Christ.

We will inherit the future glory that is ahead of us in Christ.

Life in the Spirit vs. Life in the Flesh

The Problem with the Law

The passage speaks of a juxtaposition: living in the Spirit versus living in the flesh. Paul tells us the law is weak and powerless.

This may seem strange, especially to Jewish readers who understood the law as God's grace and provision—a gift that set them free and showed God's love.

The History of the Law

When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought something into the world that had never existed before: death. This was not just their fate; it meant death entered the entire world. Destruction and the poison of sin meant everything was no longer working properly. Things were unfair. Everything began to die.

God responded by giving the law:

• First, the Ten Commandments through Moses
• Then, 613 additional commands to help them obey the Ten Commandments
• A sacrificial system to atone for sin, since the punishment for sin is death and blood must be shed

Why the Law Couldn't Solve the Problem

But throughout the Old Testament, we see the law didn't work—not because the law was bad, but because it couldn't defeat sin. It could only:

• Guide and teach us
• Tell us about God's character
• Show us what sin is
• Provide a method to atone

But that method relied on human obedience. The people had to remember what they'd done, confess, and sacrifice. The system depended on human effort and memory. The law could detect sin but not defeat it.

As theologian Manson said:

"Moses' law had right but not might. Sin's law had might but not right. But the law of the Spirit has both right and might."

Jesus: The Only One Who Could Defeat Sin

Only Jesus could defeat sin. The sacrificial system required a constant stream of sacrifices, but Jesus—God's Son—never sinned. So God's sacrifice of his Son was enough and more than enough. It paid for all our sin.

Sin itself was condemned in the flesh of Jesus. Jesus bore the condemnation we deserved. And since we now find ourselves in Christ, the condemnation we deserve passes over us.

The law was fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus was treated as a sinner so we can be treated as righteous.

Walking in the Spirit: True Freedom

What It Means to Walk in the Spirit

Walking in the Spirit means the whole course, direction, and progress of your life is directed by the Holy Spirit. Your life is continually driven forward in Christ. And in Christ, you are not condemned—you are given life in all its fullness.

Jesus said:

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

This is not a limited life. It is not a life controlled by the law anymore. It is a life given to us in its fullness.

Free From Sin, Free For Life

We are now free from our sins so we can be free for something. We are free for life in all its fullness. We experience the peace of God—a peace that passes all understanding.

That peace doesn't make sense to the world. It goes way beyond what we ourselves can process. In all of that, we are given freedom.

The Illusion of Doing Whatever You Want

Doing whatever you want might look like freedom, but it only brings bondage. When you can do whatever you want, someone has to pay for it. The things your sinful heart desires are not good for you.

In Christ, yes, we still follow the law—but now we are free to follow it.

The Jews believed the law brought life, but that wasn't true until Jesus. Now the law brings us life because we follow it as someone who is:

• No longer condemned
• No longer bound by sin
• Secure in Christ's work

The Gospel Really Is This Good

Yes, the gospel is as good as it sounds. Yes, it is as easy as it sounds.

Our salvation is not about us. It is about him, and him alone. That is the word for today.

It is good news. Come to him, and he is more than enough. This is the invitation: come and enjoy the love of the Father poured out for us. Sit at the table he has invited us to sit at.

And that invitation is for anyone—not just those who have known Jesus a long time. If you haven't turned to Jesus, there is no condemnation. You can have that today.