"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus . . . "
*How* can there "now be no condemnation" for the churchmen and for Paul--especially given that he (Paul) had just enunciated (in ch. 7 of Romans) his indwelling sin nature (that just won't go away entirely in this life)? Because Someone else (Jesus) had accomplished redemption and forgiveness for him (and for all believers), (cf. Rom. 8:2-3).
If it was at all up to us, there would be no hope at all. We would be doomed, and condemned. But our salvation is not dependent upon us at all. Instead, it rests entirely on the Lord Jesus Christ. How do we then participate in His atonement? By faith, (plus nothing). This gos-
pel is truly revolutionary, and the world has no understanding of it. But let us who are known by God bless Him for revealing it to us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The gospel stands in no need of external evidences of its truth and divinity. It carries its own light and evidence with it." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
