Fighter Verses

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. —Romans 8:1

With the glorious declaration of Romans 8:1, the Apostle Paul reaches the summit of an arduous climb. When the word ‘therefore’ begins a Bible verse, it’s time to pause and consider what has come before. The word denotes that something previously stated is bearing on what is said—the something is Romans chapters 1-7. So, to adequately consider the depth of meaning in Romans 8:1, it’s necessary to look at the previous chapters for context.

In his book Knowing God J.I. Packer states that “…as the book of Romans is the high peak of the Bible, so chapter 8 is the high peak of Romans.” He further explains, “You will not penetrate the secret of Romans 8 by studying the chapter on its own. The way into Romans 8 is through Romans 1-7 and the impact of Romans 8 upon you will reflect what it has cost you to come to terms with what those chapters say.”

It’s important to read the full chapters of Romans 1-8 this week, but here is a brief outline to help:

Romans 1:1–3:20
“The righteous shall live by faith” (1:16-17). Every person is lost and a helpless sinner. Our sin condemns us before God who is holy and righteous. The wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness (1:18). We have no excuses before Him (1:20-21). There is no one righteous; every person is guilty before Him (3:11-19). “For by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in God’s sight, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin” (3:20).

Romans 3:21–5:21
God provides righteousness to the Jew and the Gentile on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ (3:21-23). Justification is the gift of God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. By the shedding of His blood, Jesus is the propitiation (satisfaction for God’s wrath against our sin) for us, that we might have redemption through faith in Him and be reconciled to God (3:24-25). “[Righteousness] will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (4:24-25). God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (5:8).

Romans 6–7
Those who believe in Jesus are by faith in union with Him in His death and resurrection, and are set free from slavery to sin (6:1-7). Believers have new hearts that now want to obey God—to present their bodies as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification and its end, eternal life (6:15-22). “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23). Our position, by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, is that we are released from the Law and clothed in Christ’s righteousness—yet experientially, while here in our flesh, we still battle with sin. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (7:24-25).

Romans 8
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1). God has given us everything in Christ Jesus –

• Justification by His blood. He is the propitiation for sin. On the cross He paid the penalty for sin and bore the wrath of God against us. God now accepts us on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice.
• Sanctification by Christ’s righteousness imputed to the believer and working in us by the power of the Holy Spirit for joyful obedience to God.
• Eternal Life and Glorification secured for the believer by Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The believer is made a child of God the Father through Jesus and made a joint-heir with Him in His inheritance.

For Reflection:

1. How do you respond to this glorious good news – the gospel?
2. Today is the day, the right time, to turn to Jesus and place your faith in Him.
3. There is no sin that is unforgivable except the sin of not believing in Jesus – He has done it all for you. Romans 8:1 makes clear that by faith in Christ Jesus the guilt of your sin, all that condemns you before God, is washed away by His blood shed for you.

Recommended Resources:

• Helping Children to Understand the Gospel
• Glorious God, Glorious Gospel – An Interactive Family Devotional, Coloring Book, and Student Notebook
• The Very Bad News and The Very Good News (Coming Soon!)

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Truth78 publishes curriculum, devotional books, children’s books (including More Than a Story), church & parenting resources (including Zealous: 7 Commitments for the Discipleship of the Next Generations), Scripture memory tools and other resources designed to equip your home and church for leading children and youth to treasure God.

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