The Great Eight - Pt 3

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 ESV).

I have been privileges to see some of the most wonderful landscapes in our country. I have been to nearly every state at one time or another; I have lived in three of those. I enjoyed the best of each of them in their distinct uniqueness. Here in North Central Texas, where some say the west really begins, I have found the vast vistas spectacular both at sunrise and sunset. There is something majestic in how the world seems to stretch out before me forever at sunrise. It reminds me of the greatness of God. Sometimes I have seen the old windmill as it stands defiantly against the weathering of the elements and the natural erosion of time. It seems to welcome the new day as the sun rises in the background. This is what Paul must have seen when he comes to declare there is finally now no condemnation. Today we look at the finally now. All those years the law commanded and the law condemned law-breakers and the law pointed to a Righteousness and a Sacrifice that would someday come (cf. Romans 3:21), but the law could not remove condemnation from sinners. If there was to come a time when sinners could experience “no condemnation!” — when the ungodly could be justified by faith — then God would have to do something besides give a law. And what he did was send his Son in human nature, as our representative and substitute and there on the cross in the suffering of his Son, God condemned sin! It was not Jesus’ sin (v. 3). He had none. It was not his; it was ours. This is the gospel. This is Christianity. All of us were under God’s condemnation because of our sin. Earlier in the letter (cf. Romans 5:6) the apostle says, “While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Now we see who those “ungodly” were. It’s all of us. He condemned our sin in His flesh. Therefore, finally, now, there is no condemnation. Now that everything has been done that has to be done to absorb the wrath of God. Now, finally, there is no condemnation. See? Now we can finally take rest from the oppression of sin and death. They have no hold on us. Jesus has finally come. Like the warmth of the sun after a cold, crisp night we bathe in the relief that we have now made it to the day! Be encouraged that the day has begun!