The word “condemn” is derived from the Latin word “condemnare,” from con- expressing intensive force, plus “damnare” which means to ‘inflict loss on’. It is to express complete disapproval of, typically in public to censure. It is to prove or show guilt and declared unfit for use.
This is how you and I will stand before God without Christ as our Advocate. Guilty and condemned! All our sins will be laid out in the open, and no argument on our behalf will change anything. God is supreme in justice and in mercy. His grace will not be extended if we have not met the conditions of salvation. There are several verses in the scriptures that show our guilt before God.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Romans 2:1 “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judge: for in what you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you, that judge do the same things.”
John 3:17-18 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
However, because I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ and repented of my sins, His grace can be extended to me. He paid what I owed! Can you imagine committing a crime, being found guilty, and being sentenced to die? Not just found guilty by some jury and judge, but being guilty, and knowing in your heart you are guilty. And then, just as you are about to be strapped into the electric chair, someone steps forward and declares you innocent, because they are going to take your punishment. That is what Jesus did for us. We were condemned, and then set free! We who are saved from the wrath of God should never get over these truths. Every time we read Romans 8:1, we should say out loud, NO CONDEMNATION! Our soul should be electrified at the thought of what has been extended to us by God’s grace.
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
When we are saved, we still struggle and fall short of perfect obedience that is needed to escape the wrath of God, but if we are in Christ, God no longer condemns us. We are now on the road to sanctification, and we will stumble, but Romans 8:1 reminds us that on judgment day our eternal destiny is secure. In II Corinthians 5:21, we are reminded our justification does not rest in our efforts, but in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. His righteousness is imputed to us!
II Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
