Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

No Condemnation

Romans 8:1-2 highlights that because of life in Jesus Christ, we have been set free from sin and death. This past Sunday, we looked at Barabbas from Matthew 27:15-26. The no condemnation described in Romans 8 is pictured by Barabbas's release in Matthew 27.The word "Therefore" in verse 1 brings us back to Romans 7:25, which states that "through Jesus Christ" we will be rescued from sin and death. As a result, since deliverance is through Christ, those who are in Christ will have no condemnation (katakrima, κατάκριμα) or punishment. Instead, they are justified and stand firm in new life.The Christian has the assurance that the gift of salvation, which is the gift of being safe, of being healed, of being forgiven, of being adopted, of being made whole, of being restored in our relationship with God, is secure and settled. If you are in Christ, there is no condemnation!But why is there no condemnation for those in Christ?Verse 2 answers us explicitly: "Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death."The law of the Spirit, which is life in Jesus Christ, has set us free from the law of sin, which leads to death because of His perfect life and substitutionary death. You could think about it this way: there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because Jesus Christ was condemned on our behalf.This passage encourages us to throw off the self-imposed shackles of guilt and shame. We are not defined nor punished according to our sins because Christ has dealt with those things once and for all.Today, if you are in Christ, the most accurate thing about you is that there is no condemnation.Salvation is not a reward for the righteous but a gift for the guilty. It cannot be earned but only received. May we receive it today!