Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
This beautiful verse, a favorite for many a Christian, is one of the most freeing statements in the Bible. However, it has been greatly misused and misunderstood throughout the millennia. As the verse goes plainly, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” It is the “in” that makes all the difference when it comes to condemnation. Is a person in Christ? If they are they are no longer condemned with the rest of mankind who are “out” of Him.
John 3:18
He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is already condemned.
Many claim no condemnation in Christ simply because they have confessed His Name, been baptized, and go to church. Others make this verse their mantra to excuse away sin in their lives and free them up to licentious living. However this verse may be misquoted, the truth still remains the same. Anyone who is in Christ has no condemnation. Therefore the opposite must be the case: anyone who is out of Him still has condemnation.
Another important word in this verse is “therefore.” Whenever “therefore” is used in Scripture it’s telling the reader to look at the preceding verses to gain a fuller meaning of what’s being said currently. So, in order to understand who’s “in” Christ with no condemnation one must look at the verses preceding Romans 8:1. There we find the inspired writer himself describing how “in Christ” plays out in his own life (read Romans 7:22-25).
Being “in Christ” causes a person to struggle against sin. “In Christ” is more than making the good confession and going to church. It’s proven by a changed person – a person who doesn’t live the way they used to live.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation; the old things have passed away and behold, new things have come.
As this new person in Christ now fights against sin they are free from the consequences of it because their hate of sin is living proof that they are indeed in Christ. These may still sin but they don’t want to. They agree with God’s Word on the matter and despise wrong doing. This person is by evidence of their character a new person in Christ Jesus. They will receive no condemnation in Christ “because the law of the Spirit of Christ has set them free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).” Anyone who claims Christ but lives a life of license, who displays no fight against sin and who lives the same way they always have, is in danger of not being “in Christ.”
Romans 6:1-4
What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means. We died to sin; how shall we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that those of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father we too may live a new life.
