Blessed Assurance (Part 2)

By Clifton Angel “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1a).     Now. In order to appreciate the word “now” in this passage, we must first consider the word “therefore”. Paul is concluding something. He has just been explaining the discouragement, heartache, and struggle that came with living under the old law (cf. Rom 7:5-25). Paul begins such a discussion with the phrase, “for when we were in the flesh” (Rom 7:5). “Flesh” was a symbolic term that Paul sometimes used to refer to the temporary old law (cf. Gal 3:1-3). What was wrong with the old law, Paul? Nothing! “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Rom 7:12). It served the purpose God intended (cf. Gal 3:19-27). Then, what is the problem? With a paraphrase of Romans 7 and evident events in Paul’s life, consider what he might say: “Me! I’m the problem; I have sinned! Let me explain. It’s the yearly Passover Feast. I have my beautiful young lamb. Many friends and family will be there. I take my lamb to the priest. I smell the burning flesh. I see blood all over the place. I tell him my sin, and just for a moment I hoped...I thought that maybe...but he said, “Remember, you’re still a sinner.” “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom 7:24). But now. “There is therefore now.” Can you try to picture Paul’s face as this was being written? I wonder if his eyes lit up with joy? Perhaps a smile came across his face and tears began to roll down his cheeks? Now. Paul was a man that knew what it is like to live under the old law and under the new law: the Gospel! Do we ever stop and thank God that we live now?     No Condemnation. The original word translated “condemnation” literally means “down judgment.” When we think of heaven, we think “up.” When we think of hell, we think “down.” To be condemned would mean that at the judgment, one would be going “down” to hell. However, we are talking about “no condemnation.” When a house is condemned, it is declared “unfit for use.” There is no life in it. Likewise, there is no life in a condemned person. But in Christ, there is no condemnation, and His life is in you (cf. Rom 6:3–4; Gal 2:20). Read Romans 8:35-39.     O, the blessed assurance of no condemnation! Who can separate me from the love of Christ? Only I can separate myself from the love of Christ. The Apostle Paul knew this, for he said, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor 9:27). Are you partaker in this blessed assurance?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/