No Condemnation

Temple Baptist Church - 4-15-2018

Romans 8:1-11

Introduction:

A.  God wants us to understand that, positionally, the law has no dominion over us.  But, practically, we are still just sinners saved by the amazing grace of God.

Colossians 3:3-4  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  (4)  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

B.  The child of God’s “conflict of interest.”  The carnal man desires the things of the world while the spiritual man desires the things of God.  The flesh is against God and the spirit loves God.

Romans 7:22-24  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

C.  Chapter 8 begins with the word “therefore,” so the context has not changed.  Though we often commit those sins of commission (intentional sin) and sins of omission (also intentional sin), our position in Christ never changes.

D.  One of the most important words in verse one is “now.”   

1.  One day, God will take us home and we will have a sinless body with no sin nature.  But, what about now?  So many denominations err at this point.  They will agree that salvation is apart from works but will argue that works are essential to maintaining salvation.  To put it simply, man is not good enough to be saved but must be good enough to remain saved. 

2.  Paul spoke of this when writing to the churches at Galatia.  The Judaizers crept in and tried to bring the believers back under the law.

Galatians 3:1-3  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  (2)  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  (3)  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

E.  Verses 1 and 9 describe the child of God, not indict him!  If you are saved, you will have a desire to live for Christ.  God uses the same way of explaining the position of the child of God in both Romans 8 and James 2.

James 2:17-20  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  (18)  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  (19)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  (20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  (James declares that a faith without works is a dead faith.  God’s children love God and have a desire to live for Him.)

F.  John recorded this in John, chapter 3 (The New Birth Chapter):

John 3:16-21  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  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.  (19)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  (21)  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

G.  Three positions of the child of God:

1.  Saved, not trying to be saved.  Salvation is a present, finished work!

Ephesians 2:1-10  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  (2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  (3)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  (4)  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved (to deliver, protect, make whole) through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  (Everything in these verses are broken down into our pre-salvation and present salvation.  Salvation is

2.  Safe, not trying to remain saved.  Salvation is an eternal work!

John 10:27-30  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  (30)  I and my Father are one.  (An absolute negative!)

3.  Sure, not doubtful.  Blessed assurance is a product of our faith in God’s promises!

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

1 John 5:10-13  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  (11)  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  (12)  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  (13)  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Isaiah 32:16-18  Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.  (17)  And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.  (18)  And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;