No Condemnation: Freedom Declared in Romans 8

All right, this morning, I'm excited to preach on one of my favorite books of

the Bible, the Book of Romans.

Who loves the Book of Romans? Who loves the Book of Romans, Chapter 8? Yes. Hallelujah.

Romans 8 · chapter mention

And I'll go into the Chapter 8 of Romans. But to start with this morning,

I want to read the last few verses of Romans 7.

And then I want to concentrate on Romans 8, Chapter 1. And I just want you to

look at the contrast between the two, between Romans 7 and Romans 8.

Let me start by reading Romans 7. I'm going to read verses 21 to 25.

This is the Apostle Paul writing to the Roman Church.

It says this, I had discovered this principle of law, that when I want to do

what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.

Hallelujah. I love God's war with all my minds.

But there's another power between me that is at war with my minds.

But the power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

Oh, what a miserable person I am.

Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? This is Paul writing.

Thank God the answer is in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

So you see how it is. In my mind, I really want to obey God's law,

but because of my sinful nature, I'm a slave to sin.

All right, they are the last four or so verses of Romans 7.

Romans 8 and verse 1 says this, So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Can you see the contrast between the two?

It's like if you read all the chapter 7 of Romans, you will see the struggles of this world, okay?

You then flick the page over, swipe your iPad, whatever it is,

the Romans 8 verse 1, and then you read it.

Romans 8:1

So now there was no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus Christ.

Now, do you understand with me here that this isn't a soft whisper from heaven?

This is a bold declaration.

This is actually a judicial announcement. It's a covenant decree.

It's the sound of eternity interrupting accusations.

Let me read it to you again. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Get that into your mind. Get that into your life. There is no condemnation for

those who belong to Christ.

Now, Romans 8, it doesn't ease in quietly, does it?

It explodes out of Romans 7 like a man breaking free from the chains around his life.

Who needs to do some breaking free from chains and airlines? God.

After the agony, after the frustration, after the cry of Paul when he said,

who will wrest in many from this body of death?

Paul doesn't say to us, try armour.

He doesn't say to us, do better. He doesn't say, be more disciplined.

He actually says to us, there therefore now no condemnation. Wow! I love it.

That's not just the courage that's actually been set free from slavery.

That's what Romans 8 and verse 1 is, being set free from slavery.

Now, I'm going to invite you to my mind again this morning. I want you to see

this in the spirit with me.

I'm a very, very picture-based person. I love to see pictures in my mind.

I love to see scenes acted out, okay?

So join with me. I want you to see this in the spirit.

The courtroom of heaven is ascended, okay? We're sitting in the courtroom of heaven.

The accuser is present. The devil is present. The accuser is present.

And they call him the accuser. Because in Revelation, they call him the accuser of the beggar.

So you're all accused by the devil.

You're all sitting in this courtroom accused by the devil.

Okay? Your history is all over the tables.

What? The whole history, your whole life is written out on the table in that courtroom.

Your pride of failures are being revealed in this courtroom.

Your hidden compromises are revealed in this courtroom. Your weak moments are on display.

Your inconsistent seasons. He's had an inconsistent season in their life.

They are all on the table in the courtroom of heaven.

The enemy, the devil, is ready to prosecute you all, okay?

And if we're honest, sometimes the loudest accuser isn't the devil.

Sometimes it's our own conscience that's ready to prosecute us.

But for all the victims who have been raped, Jesus steps forward.

Jesus steps forward he's not stepping forward to argue your innocence your innocence

because he kills it he's not stepping forward to deny the evidence that's spread all over the table,

but what he does get up and do is he presents his blood he presents his blood

to the courtroom of heaven and the blood speaks a lot louder than the accusations

it speaks a lot louder than what's on the table in front of you.

The judge doesn't deliterate at all. He does not call for a recess.

We don't have a recess. I may be going to consider this. He doesn't call for

a recess. He doesn't consult if the angel's about you.

He strikes the devil on the table and he says no condemnation.

No condemnation. Case dismissed.

Sentence cancelled. Punishment Absorbed.

Debt erodes. And when that game fell, the devil lost his legal ground.

Isn't that awesome? Isn't that unbelievable? It's so unbelievable, it's a rectangle.

It's miraculous. So what is this condemnation that Romans 8 verse 1 talks about?

Romans 8:1

What is this condemnation?

Condemnation isn't just feeling bad.

It's actually a legal sentence after judgment. You're condemned for what you've done.

It means it's your penalty. It means it's punishment for you for what you've done.

Paul uses this courtroom language just as I have because it's about position and not emotion.

Some believers feel condemned because they can feel struggle with rejection.

But condemnation is not struggle.

Condemnation is being declared guilty and sentenced.

That's what condemnation is. And Romans 8, verse 1 says that this sentence does

Romans 8:1

not exist for those who are in Christ.

That sentence does not exist for you and I.

It doesn't exist for those who are in Christ. It's not postponed.

You're not put on a good behavior you want. It's not reduced in any way.

There's no probationary periods.

There's no sentence at all. None.

No sentence at all.

Now, Josh, can you put that Romans 8 verse 1 back up there again?

Romans 8:1

This word, be out, that's what I want us to concentrate on, the word now.

So now, there is no condemnation. That word now is another explosion in our lives.

It means, what does the word now mean? Come on, call it out.

What does the word now mean?

Today. It means in this moment, it means in this season, it means in your current

state of growth, it means in your unfinished sanctification.

Not when you've conquered every habit, not when you've mastered every weakness,

and not when you've become spiritually impressive.

It means now it means now so now there is no condemnation for those who belong

to Christ Jesus now you get it?

Right now this moment this place this part of your life right now there is no

condemnation it means in this moment now you may be waiting to feel worthy before

you approach God boldly.

You can't be waiting to feel worthy.

You're going to be waiting a long time.

But worthiness is not the qualification that you're looking for.

The qualification that you're looking for to approach God boldly is uniting to a cross.

It's uniting to a cross. The verdict is not based on your last week,

what he did last week or what he didn't do last week. The verdict is not based on that.

It's based on Christ's finished work.

The cross was not a partial pain, it was not a spiritual lay-by for us,

it was full sanctification of divine justice in your love. So start building one.

The promise is not for everybody, however. The promise is not for everybody.

It's for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Now, this is covenant language. it's those that

have chosen to be in complement with God and with

Jesus to be in Christ means his

death counts as your death it means

his righteousness counts as your righteousness it means his resurrection counts

as your resurrection and it means your victory or his victory counts as your

when the father looks at you.

It's going to be an awesome day that day when God looks at you.

When he looks at you, he does not see an isolated sin of trying to improve.

He sees somebody eaten by his son.

He sees his son when he looks at you.

If there was the condemnation, have a listen to this.

Think about this for a second with me. If there was still some condemnation

left for you, it would mean there would have to be condemnation left for Jesus

as well. Did you hear that?

There's no condemnation for

us because there's no condemnation left for Jesus. He did it all for us.

It's done. He is accepted. He is in throne. He is righteous.

And you are with him. You ain't with Christ Jesus.

Let me speak prophetically for a moment with you. The enemy knows,

the devil knows that he cannot undo your salvation.

Your salvation is secure. The devil cannot undo your salvation, and he knows that.

But what he will try and do is undermine your confidence in your salvation.

Am I really so? That's what the devil wants in here. That's doubt.

He wants to hear the lack of confidence that we have.

If he can keep you condemned, then he can keep you cautious.

If he can keep you ashamed, then he can keep you silent as well.

If you're ashamed, then you're not going to go out there and tell other people about it.

Condemnation shrinks with prayer.

Condemnation shrinks prayer. It weakens our worship.

If we feel condemned, then we're going to be weak in our worship.

It dulls our boldness, condemnation does.

It makes you second-guess the fact that you're even... It's what condemnation does.

How many believers are anointed but live apologetically?

How many are called, but are warped in your zip to squall a father?

Condemnation is a leash that the devil walks around holding onto us with.

Condemnation is a leash. If you know what Romans 8 and verse 1 does, it cuts it.

It cuts that leash. We are set free. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

So, now let's have a look at the differences between conviction and condemnation.

The Holy Spirit convicts us. The Holy Spirit puts that feeling in us that,

oh, what I'm doing here is not right. Learn from that thing.

The Holy Spirit convicts, the enemy condemns. Okay?

Conviction is precise from the Holy Spirit.

Where condemnation is oppressive.

Conviction says the action is beneath who you are.

Come up. That's what the Holy Spirit is saying. That's him. What you're doing,

what you're thinking, what you're not doing is beneath you. Come up to me.

That's what the Holy Spirit is doing to us. Come up. Where condemnation says

that action proves who you really are. Stay down there.

Conviction leads to repentance and freedom from the Holy Spirit.

Condemnation leads to shame and paralysis.

We need to cut that lead. We need to let Jesus cut that lead.

And some of you have been mistaking the voice of accusation to the voice of God.

It's not there. It's not there. Hear this clearly with me this morning.

God corrects his children. The Holy Spirit corrects us.

He does not condemn you. You are not condemned. You are not on trial anymore.

You know what you are? You're adopted. You're adopted, by God.

Adopted. So Romans 7 to Romans 8, those two massive, differently,

different chapters of Romans, Romans 7 to Romans 8.

Remember this context with me, okay? Romans 7 is called, is a man wrestling,

I do what I don't want to do, I do what I don't want to do,

what I hate, what I practice.

Now that's law, that's vulnerable, and that's honest.

And immediately after that eternal battle, Paul declares no condemnation.

Now, that's really important because many believers assume that our struggle cancels our sonship.

It does not. It does not cancel your sonship. There is now no condemnation.

You remain an adopted son of your own. I've got it, yes.

The war does not remove the verdict either. Your battles, your struggle,

it doesn't remove the verdict.

You may be in a process, but you're not under punishment. We've got to remember

that as we're struggling.

So this spirit of adoption, let me talk about the spirit of adoption that you

and I are all adopted by God.

Just a few verses later in Romans 8, Paul says that we've received something

called the spirit of adoption.

Yes, we've received the spirit of adoption.

Romans 8, verse 15, let me read it to you. It says, so you have not received

Romans 8:15

the spirit that makes you fearful slaves.

Instead, you've received God's spirit when he adopted you as his own children.

Now we call him Abba Father. not the spirit of slavery anymore.

There's no spirit of slavery over us anymore.

Slavery fears, I mean, no, where adoption rests in belonging.

A condemnation keeps you at a distance where adoption brings you close.

Condemnation says you better not mess up where adoption says you're mine.

You're mine. You do not serve to earn acceptance.

You serve because you are accepted. You are accepted.

So I'm sensing strongly this morning that there are people who have been spiritually

limited because of old accusations in their life.

Not recent ones, but old ones, old accusations in your life.

Words that perhaps were spoken over you.

Fages you never forgave yourself for.

Seasons you were embarrassed about. And you've been walking into worship with

some invisible weight on your shoulders.

But the Spirit of God is saying to you this morning, and I want you to hear

this, the Spirit of God is saying, the case is closed.

God removes our sin as far as the east is from the west, doesn't it? Yep.

You know what that means, don't you? If you get in a car and start driving west

or east, you are never going to become, or you're never going to arrive and start traveling west.

If you travel east, you're never going to start traveling west. They never meet.

Well, if you go north, think of this. If you go north, eventually you'll go

so far north off, that you will start heading south.

But if you keep heading west or east, you're not going to end up traveling in

the opposite direction, okay?

That's how far God has removed the sin from our lives.

That it will never meet. And God is saying to us this morning,

he's saying this, stop reminding me of it.

Stop reminding me. I've forgotten it. I've Clear that there's no condemnation.

Stop reminding me of it. That's a hard concept to say.

Stop reminding me of it.

The Spirit of God is saying the case is closed. Not because it was serious.

Sorry, not because it wasn't serious, but because it was paid for. It was paid for by Jesus.

Not because it didn't matter, but because the blood mattered more.

The enemy cannot reopen what God has sealed so don't be a loser don't be a loser.

I believe, church, it's time to stand up under the word of church heaven.

Heaven has made a word in our lives.

Stop agreeing with voices that God has sought.

Stop rehearsing charges heaven has already dismissed.

Stop living like you're one mistake away from an exile. You're not a sebation.

You're not on a good behavior.

You are positioned in Christ.

Lift your head. open your mouth, pray boldly, worship freely,

and believe confidently.

Not because you're perfect, but because Jesus is perfect.

And you are living in Jesus. Joshua, come on. Jesus is sufficient.

It's sufficient for everything that has been true.

I mean, hallelujah.

Okay. Romans 8 is the gospel in one chapter, one chapter.

If you ever forget the rest of the Bible, you'll forget it or,

you know, you'll ever forget it.

Remember this part, there's no condemnation and there's no separation.

Romans 8 starts with it by saying there's no condemnation, and it finishes by

saying there's no separation.

Let me read that to you. Romans 8, verses 38 to 35, it says,

I am convinced, be convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love,

neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

Neither our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow, not even the towers

of hell can separate us from God's love.

No power in the sky above, for we give, although indeed nothing in all creation

will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Well, that's the gospel in power. Hallelujah. It is the gospel in power.

So hear this over your life this morning, okay? I'm going to make some declarations.

Look, I'm loving declaring things I do love. I want you to love the seed of

these declarations over your life.

So hear this over your life. Close your eyes, hold your hands out,

and let me declare some things over you this morning.

The blood has...

The gavel has fallen. Bang. The sentence is lifted.

The debt is cancelled.

The shame, it's broken. And the accusation is silence.

There is therefore now, right now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ

Jesus. Walk in freedom, church.

Hallelujah. Walk in freedom. Live in authority.

Pray with confidence and worship without constraint.

The verdict stands and heaven is not reopening the case.

Remember that. Heaven is not revisiting or reopening the case. It is finished.

Jesus declared that. It is finished. So, Lord, this morning, Lord, I worship you.

I worship you, Lord, because you took it all for me.

And for each and every one of us sitting here, sitting here right now, you took it all for us.

You served for penalty.

You paid for Christ. You gave up your life, Lord, for us.

And, Lord, we thank you for that, Lord. Lord, we declare, Lord,

that you have now risen to new life.

And, Lord, we join you in that new life.

Lord, you've taken the shame. You've taken the guilt. You've taken the accusations.

You've taken the condemnation, Lord. That is now guide as we arise to new life with you.

So, Lord, we worship you, Lord, as we wake up every morning,

as we go to bed every night. Lord, we need to worship you for that.

And taking that penalty for us. but taking that condemnation and lifting a task.

So, Lord, we worship you, Lord. I pray for every person here this morning that

they will walk out of here, Lord, with that incomplete understanding,

that complete confidence, Lord, that they are no longer condemned.

No matter what has happened in the past, Lord God, it's not about what we have done in the past, Lord.

It's about what you've done for us, Lord God. And you have taken that off us.

So, Lord, I declare that only every person this morning There's now no condemnation

that looks in every one of you because of what Jesus has done to you.

But those who are Christ's exodus, you are not condemned.

So go this morning with freedom.

Go this morning with freedom in your life. Go this morning with authority.

Go this morning with confidence in your life.

And go this morning without the slaves in your Christian life.

And share that with others. Hallelujah.

Romans 8, verse 1, There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

Amen. Stay now.