No Condemnation

Paul begins chapter eight with a word concerning condemnation: “There is now then no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Once again I would say that the condemnation here is inward. Here the writer can praise and declare that there is no longer any condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

When some read this verse, they may say, “I am in Christ Jesus. But how come I don’t have such a cry of victory? Instead, I am still sighing and moaning.”

The reason is that actually and practically we may be in 7:24 and not in 8:1. When we enjoy the Lord in a church meeting, we may have a sense of victory. We are then in 8:1. But after the meeting, we may be defeated again and find ourselves once more in 7:24.

We need to pay attention to the tense of 8:1. This verse is in the present tense, not in the future. Paul does not say, “There will be no condemnation”; he says that there is now no condemnation.

When a problem comes up, we should remember this and declare, “There is now no condemnation.”

For example, when you come home after a meeting and your husband or wife is about to bring up a troublesome matter, you need to remember that at that very moment there is no condemnation. If we declare 8:1 in the midst of our daily situations, we shall see how effective the word of God is.

We need to proclaim God’s word to the enemy, to the demons. Wherever we go, we must declare the word of God. In particular, we must declare that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ.

Satan will lie to us and say that we are defeated, even though we are in Christ. Do not accept this lie, and do not believe it. Instead, declare the word of God. Declare that to those who are in Christ there is now no condemnation.