Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 8:33-34
If beating yourself was a sport, some of you would be black belts. You have spent many years beating yourself up, criticizing yourself, accusing yourself, condemning yourself, discouraging yourself. Others of you don’t have to do that because you have someone in your life who does it for you: a spouse or a parent or even a toxic friend who excels at pointing out your faults. And then there is that slanderous, accusing Enemy who whispers accusation and condemnation in all our ears from time to time. All of this being reminded of our faults and failures has a discouraging effect on us.
What do you do when you’re faced with condemnation and accusations from within and without? Very simply, you remind yourself that God has already declared you innocent on any charge that can be brought against you. If God has justified you (meaning if God has declared you innocent on all counts), then who can condemn you? No one! Nothing in your past, nothing you have ever done, can be charged against you. Your record has been expunged, wiped clean. As Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” You don’t have to listen to or believe any condemnation that is hurled at you anymore.
Let me tell you why. In vs 34 Paul gives us four reasons why you will never be condemned. It says, first, that Christ died for you and paid the penalty for your sins. You don’t have to live on the run, because your debt has been paid. It’s done. Second, Jesus didn’t just die to pay the penalty for your sin. He was also raised from the dead. This proves that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice. It proves that His death was effective. It’s almost like the believer’s sales receipt proving that God accepted payment and your debt was paid in full. Third, Jesus has ascended the throne and now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty in Heaven. This means that Jesus shares in God’s power.* The One who died to save you from your sins, now has power to make sure you stay saved. And fourth, Scripture tells us that Jesus uses His position and influence at the right hand of God to intercede on your behalf. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Jesus has God’s ear and He lives to intercede and appeal to Him on your behalf for what you need, for what is in your best interests.**
If you are a Christian and you have all of that going for you, then who is powerful enough to bring any charge or any condemnation against you? No one!
*Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), p.243.
**Schreiner, Thomas R., English Standard Version Study Bible, note on Revelation 8:34. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway. 2008), p.2172.
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