No Condemnation | Romans 8:1-4

Scripture

• Romans 8:1–4

About this sermon

Introduction: The book of Romans is an extended and detailed explanation and application of the gospel. It defines the gospel. It demonstrates the need for the gospel. It identifies what stands in opposition to the gospel. It clarifies how what God has done throughout history accords with the gospel. It reasons with us, showing us why the gospel is what it is. It anchors the gospel in the Old Testament Scriptures, showing how the new revelation God has given completely accords with what came before it. It demonstrates what our attitude should be about the gospel, and what our attitude should be concerning those who stand in need of the gospel. It glories in what the gospel provides. It carefully teaches us how to apply the gospel to our daily lives in the real world. And, it does so, showing us those applications for virtually every realm of life. And it is laid out in a way that we can follow its progression. So that it is no surprise, when we come to the 8th chapter of Romans, that Paul gathers up what has come before, in his earlier teaching, before he celebrates the certainty and the finality of all that is accomplished by God’s saving grace. Verses 1-4 represent a recapitulation, a summarizing, a restating, of the teaching that has led us to the 8th chapter. We will cover Paul’s review under three headings. (1) The deliverance announced (2) The deliverance specified (3) The deliverance explained. THE DELIVERANCE ANNOUNCED (vs.1a) Notice that Paul begins with the word “therefore.” What he has in mind is not just the teaching that he has just given in chapter 7, but the teaching that began in chapter 5. He is teaching the marvelous good news of justification by faith. To say that there is NO CONDEMNATION is to say that there is NO GUILT and there is no SENTENCE AND PUNISHMENT that would belong to such guilt. When man is examined on the basis of his ability to keep the law, when he is measured by the righteousness that he can ACHIEVE, the result is what we just saw in chapter 7. The law meets him with condemnation. The law tells him that he is a sinner. The law demonstrates that he is a slave. The law exposes the fact that he is fleshly and impotent before the power of sin. The law pronounces God’s verdict on such a person, and that verdict is DEATH. The man who is “under law” and not yet “under grace” is a man who is UNDER THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. But the good news being announced in verse 1 is that there is ABSOLUTELY NONE OF THAT THAT IS TRUE ANY LONGER. No condemnation means freedom from the law’s judicial claims. No condemnation means a right standing before God, given as a gift, received by faith. That was the main question leading up to the 5th chapter of Romans. How does a human being stand before God JUSTIFIED? How is one declared RIGHT WITH GOD? ESV Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. ESV Romans 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. ESV Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ESV Romans 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. ESV Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. AND THEN IN THE 5TH CHAPTER PAUL ANNOUNCES THE SOLUTION. HE TELLS US WHAT IS TRUE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED GOD’S GOOD NEWS REGARDING SALVATION IN HIS SON. ESV Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ESV Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. WHAT PAUL MADE PLAIN IS THAT ONCE A PERSON BELIEVES IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THEY ARE DECLARED RIGHT WITH GOD, AND THAT RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD, GIVEN AS A GIFT, IS NEVER REVOKED. IT IS PERMANENT. IT IS FINAL. IT IS GLORIOUSLY FREE, AND THEREFORE IT REPRESENTS PERFECT SECURITY.

Topics

• Forgiveness
• Hell & Judgment