No Condemnation (Romans 8:1)- There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

This is the first verse of chapter 8, a very encouraging chapter for Christians, beginning with probably the most encouraging verse in the Bible for Christians. By stating that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus he is saying that even though he is plagued with this battle between his sin nature and his new nature, because of Jesus Christ his Savior, he is not going to be condemned, and neither will anyone else who is in Christ Jesus. Condemnation is a judicial word that refers to punishment and stands opposite of justification, which Paul spoke about in Romans 5:1. Condemnation refers to a decision to punish someone for wrongdoing. So Paul is saying that even though he is guilty of wrongdoing, God decides not to punish Paul or all Christians, for their transgressions. The reason we will not be punished for our transgressions is because we are “in Christ.”

The term “in Christ,” used frequently by Paul describes the realm in which believers live, the realm in which people experience “justification” and “redemption,” where we are dead to sin and alive to God, and where we receive God’s free gift of life rather than sin’s wages of death. These eschatological blessings have broken into the present, as the term now demonstrates. In other words, not only will we not be condemned in the future, we are not condemned in the present (now). Not being condemned is not something we are looking forward to, it as a present reality.

If you do not have this present reality it is because you are not redeemed. Trust Christ as your lord and Savior today, and you too will not face condemnation.