From Condemnation to No Condemnation

All people are condemned by consequence of being sons of Adam, the first man and the federal head of humanity (Jn 3:18; Rom 5:12–21). Adam sinned against God and death reigned over his progeny by consequence of inheritance. In other words, Adam’s gift to his offspring was poisonous unto death (Rom 6:23). Therefore, it is appointed once for a man to die and then comes the judgment (Heb 9:27).

Each man’s account of his deeds done in the flesh is only sin. There is no one who does good (Rom 3:12), as all of sinful man’s works are filthy rags in God’s evaluation (Is 64:6). Many are shocked to learn that every intent of the thoughts of each man’s heart is only evil continually (Gen 6:5). With this assessment from the Bible, people are in denial, thinking more highly of themselves than they ought to think (Rom 12:3).

To further emphasize the tragedy of fallen humanity, the standard for justification before God is perfection. To fail at one point of the Law of God is to be fully guilty of the whole Law (Jas 2:10). Thus, we see the stark separation between God and man (Is 59:2). God is holy (1 Pet 1:16), and man is wretched…totally depraved.

The Law of God cannot save anyone. It was not issued for that purpose; rather, the Law was given to man to show him his true state, which is condemnation (Jn 3:18; Rom 1:18–32). It is this assessment by God that embitters a man with anger. The natural man hates God (Rom 1:30). He even hates God’s remedy for the plight of man.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sent from God the Father in heaven, is the answer to the universal problem of man, which is sin — inherited (Ps 51:5), inherent by nature (Eph 2:3), and practiced in the land of the living (Rom 3:23). Jesus is the only acceptable atonement for sinners (Lev 16). He lived impeccably without sin (Heb 4:15; 7:26). Jesus, the slain Lamb of God (Jn 1:29; Rev 5:6, 12), died without blemish, as the substitute sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7; Rev 1:5).

The death of Christ brought shed blood, which secured the eternal covenant issued by God for the redemption and reconciliation of His chosen people (1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:18–20; 1 Pet 2:9). These He knew before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8; 17:8). He chose us (Rom 11:5; Eph 1:4–5; 1 Thess 1:4; 2 Thess 2:13); we did not choose Him (Jn 15:16). His choice was gracious (Rom 11:5), even as it was sovereign according to His will (Jn 1:13).

My dear reader, these matters are made known to you by God’s gracious revelation of Himself, His Son, and His salvation. Stated another way, “the knowledge of salvation is your salvation.” To know Christ is His gift to His elect.

The gift of God is the Spirit of Christ (Lk 11:13). He gives Himself to those He has chosen. These are baptized by the Spirit (Mt 3:11; Acts 2:38; 10:45) because God appointed them to eternal life (Acts 13:48). They belong to Christ (1 Cor 3:23), who purchased them out of the slave market of sin (Rom 6:6; 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23). These redeemed people are now glad possessions of Christ, affectionately referred to as His “sheep (Ps 23; Jn 10; 21:16–17; 1 Pet 5:1–5).”

Having received the indwelling Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), God’s chosen people follow Christ all of their days. Because they belong to Him as slaves of Christ (Eph 6:6), their ambition is to please Him (2 Cor 5:9). Faith is what pleases God (Heb 11:6). Trusting Christ as a wife does her husband (Eph 5:22–33), means the Christian’s life is one of waiting on the Lord (Ps 27:14).

Christians wait in joyful hope of the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Mt 25; Col 1:27). The second coming is scheduled for the Day of the Lord, when the Judge of the living and the dead comes with vengeance to repay (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5; Rev 19:11–21).

All of Christ’s enemies throughout history will be resurrected unto judgment (Jn 5:28–29). This is the sentencing of the already condemned (Rev 20:11). Their assignment is with the devil and His demons for all eternity in the fiery hell of eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).

In contrast with this just end for sinners is the just end for the children of God by adoption (1 Jn 3:1, 10; Rom 8:15, 23). God’s promise was to be our God and that we would be His people (Ex 6:7; Dt 26:17). This is the end goal of salvation, by order of the covenant (Is 49:8), the agreement that God would save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

To be released from a state of condemnation means, the guilt of sin is removed. This is what it means to be justified, that is, to have right standing before the Holy God, which is the meaning of righteousness. The righteous live by faith in the Son of God (Rom 1:17), who loved them and gave Himself for them on the cross (Eph 5:25; 1 Pet 2:24). The disposition of hatred for God and Christ has been changed to love for Him because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:19). He poured out His love into our hearts (Rom 5:5).

God demonstrated His love toward His elect that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8), removing the enmity by way of reconciliation, in accordance with God’s terms. Jesus said, “You must be born again…to see and to enter the kingdom of God (Jn 3:1–8). He is the one who causes one to be born again (1 Pet 1:3) by implanting the Word of life (Jn 6:63; Jas 1:21).

Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest. He is all in all because all things, including our salvation from condemnation, are from Him (Rom 11:36). It originates with Him. It belongs to Him (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1). It is executed by Him (Titus 2:13; 3:5). He is glorified by it, and His glory is the most important thing in both judgment and salvation.

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and this is true from this day forth and forevermore. Amen.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 22, 2021