Rom 8:1
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There is absolutely no way one can be condemned by God, who is in Christ Jesus, and who walks not after the flesh [unregenerated] but after the Spirit [regenerated].
The first part of this verse needs some clarification, before we can rightly understand the second part " who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
When exactly is the believer ever in Christ Jesus ? How did they get into Christ Jesus in the first place ?
To answer the first question, the believer, before they believed or before they were physically born into this world, were in Christ Jesus before the World began. 2 Tim 1:9
9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
So the believer, before the world began was in Christ Jesus representatively in the Covenant of Grace, before the world began. Thats why it is stated that Grace was given them in Christ Jesus at that early date, how else can we understand " Grace which was given us" It was given to their Head and Representative of the Seed, His Seed Chosen in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
The Chosen seed ! Isa 41:8
But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
The Chosen generation which means seed or the Chosen seed 1 Pet 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Now secondly, How did they get into Christ Jesus in the first place ? By God the Fathers good pleasure 1 Cor 1:29-30
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That no flesh can boast of themselves being the cause of their being in Christ, Paul says it's of God [Father] that ye are in Christ Jesus, and He was made all those things unto them as He was made their Covenant Head and Surety, He is made unto them wisdom, and righteousness,and sanctification and redemption [of the body in the future].
So to these, even before they believed were in Christ, and therefore they were never under Condemnation, even as being born sinners and dead in trespasses and sins.
No condemnation in Christ Jesus !
Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by savedbymercy, Jul 12, 2011.
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Who walk according to the Spirit !
Now after the statement:There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus:
Its followed by this:
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Now what does this mean ? It means simply, the ones who are no longer in darkness, but now walk in God's Marvelous light 1 Pet 2:9. It means those who have had the Gospel revealed to them and in them by the Spirit 1 Cor 2:10
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Now they walk by Faith and not by sight. And so the word NOW does not mean that they were once condemned and now they are not, but that now, one knows it to be True. When and before the elect sinner is brought to Faith in Christ, they know nothing of their eternal union with Christ, they knew nothing of their legal Justification before God because of Christ Righteousness having been laid to their Charge. Sure they have been passed from darkness to light, and from death unto life, both of which are subjective experiences of the New Birth of the Holy Spirit, but their legal standing upon the merits of Christ has never changed. So upon this never changing legal standing, that there was no Condemnation in Christ, and so thats how it is Now ! God could never lay them under condemnation simply because He decided before the world began to lay their legal condemnation on Christ their Legal Head and Surety, and that decision freed them personally from that legal condemnation of their sins. This good news is revealed to each of them in the Gospel in God's time. Rom 1:16-17
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
And this begins their life of Faith, their walk according to the Spirit ! -
For those who are IN CHRIST, you are correct--there is no condemnation. Those not in Christ, however, stand condemned as they are still in their sins. In Him we have redemption and the forgiveness (Eph 1:7) of sins and the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21); apart from Him and outside of Him we have none of these. Before one is in Christ, he is by nature a 'child of wrath' (Eph 2:3).
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Matt Black Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Ah, and what does being 'in Christ' entail?
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For instance, do you suppose it means one's status by mere virtue of already being a member of the (allegedly unconditional) elect from eternity? Or does it involve actually being united to Christ by grace through faith? -
Matt Black Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The latter.
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So legal condemnation was never their lot, because Christ was made their Surety before the world began and their condemnation was charged to Him instead of to them. -
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10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
You see, the elect, even while they were enemies, that is unbelievers by nature, they still had been reconciled to God ! How ? Not by their Faith, but by the Death of God's Son, His Blood..
So, you see, my views are different from yours, and mine are supported by scripture.
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I had written:
Quote:
Those who believe not are condemned already-
To which you replied...
Quote:
God's wrath abides on the non-believer (John 3:36).
To which you replied...
"whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness..." and Paul of course continues in verse 26 to state God "is the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus". In other words, it's only through faith that the objectively meritorious propitiation by His blood is subjectively applied to the individual believer.
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In Him Representatively !
We have Looked at the Fact that those who are in Christ are first in Him by Election, that is they were before the foundation of the World Chosen in Christ Eph 1:4 and even then, Grace was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Tim 1:9
9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Now How was Grace given them in Him before the world began ? Because He was their Head and Representative, and they were His Seed.
It's the same Principle as when its written that Levi Paid tithes to Melchizedek when he was yet in his Father's loins. Heb 7:9-10
9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Now the same principle applies, The Chosen in Christ received or was given Grace while in the Spiritual Loins of their Spiritual Father Christ Jesus.
That's why Christ is seen as The Everlasting Father, because His seed was setup in Him from everlasting Isa 9:6
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
He could only be a Father if He has a progeny or offspring. Isa 53:10 confirms He does vs 10
10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Now, if all this be True, which I know it is, then Christ Chosen seed in Him before the world began, then there was no condemnation to them, not ever ! -
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I didn't ask you about your mother either.
I didn't ask you about many things.
What I did ask you is:
How do you reconcile John 3:36 with the Scripture that you did post? -
Matt Black Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Fair question, SBM...
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