"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
-Romans 8:1
Romans 8:1 is one of the most comforting promises in the Bible for the believer. Literally the first part of this verse would read something like this "there is nothing, no down-judgement on those that are in Christ Jesus..". Because of Christ Jesus there is no condemnation coming down from the Father. We have been covered by the blood of Christ, and thus made righteous before God, and again not on our own merit but on the salvific work of Christ on the cross. With that being said this verse has two parts to it. The first suggests the work of Christ on our behalf, but the second part.. "who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit", emphasizes the responsibility of the born-again believer. (emphasis on response) When we emphasize either left or right without regard to the verse as a whole we end up with certain doctrines ie. Calvinism and Arminianism. Let me put it like this...
Positionally there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Practically we must work out our salvation with trembling and fear.
Positionally I have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, Practically I must walk in the light and not in darkness any longer.
Positionally I am a branch and He is the Vine,
Practically I must remain in Him as He in me.
Positionally I am born again in the Spirit, a new creation in Christ Jesus,
Practically I must walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Positionally the old man is dead and crucified with Christ, but...
Practically I must put off the old man and put on Christ in my day to day life!
Someone once put it like this.. "we have been saved (justification), we are being saved (sanctification), and we will be saved (glorification)" Remember the world can condemn you, you can condemn yourself, and the enemy can condemn you, but in Christ Jesus there is no more condemnation for the believer! The question is are you in Christ Jesus?
Positionally there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Practically we must work out our salvation with trembling and fear.
Positionally I have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, Practically I must walk in the light and not in darkness any longer.
Positionally I am a branch and He is the Vine,
Practically I must remain in Him as He in me.
Positionally I am born again in the Spirit, a new creation in Christ Jesus,
Practically I must walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Positionally the old man is dead and crucified with Christ, but...
Practically I must put off the old man and put on Christ in my day to day life!
Someone once put it like this.. "we have been saved (justification), we are being saved (sanctification), and we will be saved (glorification)" Remember the world can condemn you, you can condemn yourself, and the enemy can condemn you, but in Christ Jesus there is no more condemnation for the believer! The question is are you in Christ Jesus?
- HOW CAN AN OVEREMPHASIS OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OR MAN'S FREE WILL DISCOURAGE US?
- “Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended on you” -Augustine