Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 8:1

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." — Romans 8:1 (ASV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

"No condemnation": that is the beginning of the chapter. No separation: that is the end of the chapter. And all between is full of grace and truth.

What a banquet this chapter has often proved to the souls of God's hungry servants! May it be so now as we read it.

No condemnation even now. Many doubts, but no condemnation. Many chastisements, but no condemnation. Even frowns from the Father's face apparently, but no condemnation.

And this is not a bare statement, but an inference from powerful arguments: There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

This is where they are. Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. This is how they behave themselves, not under the government of the old nature, but under the rule of the divine Spirit of God.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

To my mind one of the sweetest words of that verse is that little word now.

There is, therefore, now no condemnation – at this very moment.

Walking under the power of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus, there is, therefore, now no condemnation to believers. It is a logical conclusion, too, from something that went before. You and I are not absolved from sin apart from the truth, but there is a great truth at the back of it which necessitates it. There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

Observe that Paul writes There is therefore, for he is stating a truth which is founded upon solid argument. There is therefore now—at this very day, at this very moment—no condemnation—none of any sort, none that will lie in the Court of Conscience or in the Court of King's Bench above: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

Our forefathers used to read this verse, There is therefore now no damnation.

One of the martyrs, being brought before a Popish bishop, the bishop said to him, "Dying in your heresy, you will be damned." "That I never shall be," answered the good man, "for there is therefore now no damnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." He had sought the very spirit of the text, for there is nothing that can condemn the man who is in Christ Jesus.

Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This is the distinctive mark of a man in Christ Jesus. He does not let the flesh govern him, but the Spirit. The spiritual nature has come to the front, and the flesh must go to the back. The Spirit of the living God has entered into him, and become the master-power of his life. He walks not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

Some people talk about "getting out of the 7th chapter, into the 8th." But who made this into an eighth chapter? Certainly, the Holy Spirit did not. There are no chapters in the Epistle as he inspired Paul to write it; the whole of it runs straight on without a break: Therein therefore now no condemnation—while struggling, fighting, warring, contending.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

"No condemnation"—that is the first note of the chapter. In the last verse it is "no separation." What glorious music there is here—no condemnation to those who are in Christ, no separation of them from Christ! Happy are the people who have a share in this double blessing, and unhappy are the men and women who know nothing of it.

We will read it again: "There is therefore now no condemnation," There is a great deal of accusation, and a great deal more of tribulation, but there is no condemnation—not the least hint of it. Some condemnation we might have expected, but "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

My hearers, we are each of us, by nature, under the condemnation of God. We are not only subject to condemnation, but we are condemned already; and, on account of sin, there is judgment recorded in God's book against every one of us, considered in our fallen state. But if we are in Christ Jesus, if we are made partakers of Jesus, if we have hidden ourselves in the cleft of the rock, Christ, and if our trust is solely in him, oh, precious thought, there is therefore now no condemnation for us. It is blotted out. The old judgment that was recorded against us is now erased; and in God's book of remembrance there is not to be found a single condemnatory syllable, nor one word of anger written against any believer in Christ Jesus.

Glorious freedom from condemnation! How may I know whether I have been thus set free? This is the question that should enter into each of our hearts. The answer is: Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. My hearers, after which of these are you and I walking? Are we following the flesh? Are we seeking to please ourselves, to indulge our bodies, to gratify our lusts, to satisfy our own inclinations? If so, we are not in Christ Jesus; for those who are in Christ Jesus walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, and every one of you who is fleshly and carnal is not in Christ, but is still under condemnation.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,

There is no condemnation to them; that is gone, and gone forever. Not only is part of it removed, but the whole of it is gone: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. This is their legal status before God—in Christ Jesus, without condemnation; and this is their character:

Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Their daily conduct is according to their new spiritual nature, and according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and not according to their fleshly nature, and the guidance of self and Satan.