Condemnation

Now! No Condemnation!

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
 
Notice the word “now” in Romans 8:1. The moment we receive Christ, we’re immediately given the righteousness of Christ.

There’s an old story of a man unjustly sentenced to death by a Spanish court. This man had dual citizenship from both the United States and England. The ambassadors of those two countries visited the man on death row and wrapped their flags around him—both the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack. Spanish authorities could not shoot him without the bullet going through the flags and risking war with two great powers. The man was released.

When we receive Christ as Savior, God wraps us in the banner of the cross. Though we don’t become perfect or sinless the moment we receive Christ (hopefully we’ll grow in righteousness during our life, then we’ll be made totally pure and perfect in heaven), in God’s sight we’re wrapped in the flag of Jesus Christ and covered with His blood. The devil cannot have us. We belong to our Lord, and our citizenship is in heaven!

There is now no condemnation!

There is never a day in any man’s life but that he is dependent upon the grace of God for power and the blood of Jesus for cleansing.
Alan Redpath