Condemnation ~ "NOT!"

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

The 'no' in the verse above is a strong 'no' as compared to other Greek words for 'no'. It is a 'No' with a capital 'N'. (I love the old Greek language, it is so specific and logical!) This is like the English expression that has become popular that makes a statement and ends it with "NOT!" to show absolute negation.

Romans 8 is declaring a big 'No condemnation' headline for a chapter in Romans that is chocked full of goodies! Condemnation became totally defunct through the amazing life of Jesus Christ. Condemnation by definition refers to a sentence handed down after a being declared guilty. We are all guilty. In the previous chapter of Romans the great apostle Paul talked about how frustrated he was with his own life in this category. But! thank God he had learned in life how God had relieved him of the guilty irreversible sentence he thought he so deserved by making Jesus his Lord. We are all guilty of not doing things the way they should be done, and those who truly understand what Jesus Christ was and is all about know that God doesn't penalize those who love and commit themselves to him.

It took me a long time to understand the whole deal about what Jesus Christ is to our lives. I remember going into church as a child and seeing Jesus on the cross and then thinking I had done that to him. This was especially true when I was first learning about sin so that I could make my first confession. I also remember going to a church that also had a cross up front, but no Jesus. That was not as scary.

The cross represents what Jesus Christ did for us not what we did to him. What did he do for us? He freed us from the penalty of sin. He freed us from condemnation. Paul continues in Romas 8 to share what he learned;

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

Who wants to walk around with sin and death hanging over our heads? We have no sentence of condemnation when we walk in the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. (Whenever Christ comes first in his title, it refers to the the Messianic benefits of his life.) We have the spirit of life in all of its fullness when we focus on what God has done through his son.  He is our example. Jesus was a man with passions like our own. He proved to the world that walking with God is the absolute way to go! Paul knew the reality of that freedom and we have the privilege and choice today.

Paul manifested this same life in Christ Jesus to people as he lived in its freedom. We can do it today. As believers we have the spirit of God dwelling in us:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11

Our life in the fleshy carnal world doesn't do anything for us.  It is like a lead weight dragging us down under the pull of pressure and restlessness. We can shed anger, resentment, un-forgiveness  and other negative passions like we do a coat because we have a the passion of God inside our hearts to love when we walk in with his spirit.