Romans 8:1 – No Condemnation

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

What’s The Point?

The first seven chapters of Romans highlighted our guilt, our slavery to sin, and our need for a savior. Romans 8:1 is the transition that takes us from our need for a savior to our new reality in Christ. Romans 8 explains who we are in Christ, how to live by the Spirit, and gives us hope in this life and the eternal life to come. All of this begins with the truth of Romans 8:1—we are no longer guilty and condemned because of the work of Jesus.

Condemnation is a very weighty word; it conveys the idea of deserved punishment. Paul covered this idea thoroughly in the previous chapters. We are guilty of sin and deserving God’s judgment because of that guilt. Romans 5 explains how condemnation has come to all men because of Adam’s sin.        Many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, know or are familiar with John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” What people often fail to realize is that Jesus brings up the topic of condemnation in the verses just after this. The next verses say that Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world because the world was already condemned.

Being condemned is actually our natural state. Ever since Adam brought sin into the world, man could be nothing but condemned. The only way out from under condemnation is through belief in Christ. So, do you see the magnitude of what Jesus is doing? He is actually undoing the curse!

Paul’s words in Romans 8:1 should not just make us think of the past 7 chapters; it should make us think of the entirety of human history up until Christ. In the beginning, we were not created to be condemned. We were created to have perfect fellowship with our Creator, but Adam failed and brought sin into the world. Ever since that moment we have been guilty of sin and deserving judgement. So, when Paul says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” he is stating that the curse has been broken, we have been made whole again, and we are able to have fellowship with the Father again because of our union with Christ!

The fact that Christ removes the condemnation we rightly deserved should be a source of constant joy and worship for believers.

Scripture Memorization

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.“

Prayer

Father God, help me to know my sin. Make me see how terrible and wretched I truly am, so that when I think about your grace it makes the light shine that much brighter against the darkness. I confess that I am a sinner rightly deserving eternal punishment. I know that it is only through Jesus that I can know you. God, I praise you because of your eternal kindness. Thank you for the sacrifice that has paid my debt once for all.

Reflection

1. If there is sin in your life that you have not confessed to the Lord, take time and do that now.
2. Do you live as someone who is not condemned, or do you turn back to your sin and dwell in self-inflicted guilt?

Discussion Questions

1. It is not wrong to say that Christ has undone the curse. In what ways can we see this in our daily lives?
2. Even though Christ has undone the curse, there are still effects of the curse that we experience today. Why do you think that is?
3. What are some practical things that should be different in our lives if we are no longer condemned?