In Christ No Condemntation

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.

He that believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is in Christ. By an act of simple dependence upon Jesus he realizes his position as being in Christ. By nature I am in myself, and in sin, and I am, therefore, condemned, but when the grace of God awakens me up to know my ruined state, then I fly to Christ. I trust alone in His blood and righteousness, and He becomes to me the cleft of the rock, wherein I hide myself from the storm of vengeance justly due to me for my many offenses. The Lord Jesus is typified by the city of refuge. You and I are like the manslayer that was pursued by the avenger, and we are never safe till we pass through the gate of the city of refuge—I mean, till we are completely enclosed by the Lord Jesus. Inside the walls of the city the manslayer was secure, and within our Savior’s wounds we are safe. By a humble, simple, undivided dependence upon Him we are placed where we are covered by His merits, and so saved. Noah’s dove out yonder, flying over the waste of waters is outside the ark; she will never rest the sole of her foot till Noah puts out his hand and pulls her in unto him; then is she secure, and restful, but not till then. Judge, then, my hearer whether you are in Christ. Do you stand before God on your own footing, or do you rest upon Christ, and find your all in Him? This is not an abstruse problem, but a plain question. Say, is your righteousness one which you have worked out yourself, or is the righteousness of Christ imputed to you? Do you look for salvation by self, or for salvation by Christ? If you can truly say, “I hide in Christ,” then this text warbles sweeter music than ever fell from angel lips—“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Inasmuch as you have believed in Him, you are in Him. “He that believes on Him has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation;” these are our Lord’s own dear words; treasure them up in your spirits, and rejoice in them forevermore.

In Christ No Condemnation, Sermon 1917 - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Photo credit: By Sander van der Wel from Netherlands (Into the sun) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons