Who is he that condemneth?

'Who is he that condemneth?'

— Romans 8:34

For some the answer to that question is not hard to find: you are condemned already! It is commonly thought that man is on a sort of spiritual probation. But such is not the case. Hear the Word of God: ‘He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God . . . He that believeth not . . . shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him’ (John 3:18, 36). You are condemned already because of your sin. You must be pardoned, or forever die! Awake now and flee to Christ. He alone can pardon you and free you from condemnation.

There is no possibility of condemnation for those who are in Christ. There are many who would condemn the true believer if they could. God’s people often meet with their enemies in this world and those wicked men would delight to sentence us to condemnation. Satan, that archenemy of our souls, would condemn us if it were in his power. Sometimes our own consciences condemn us. But, blessed be God, ‘if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things!'

God alone has the power to condemn us, but he will not. He has declared that he will never condemn any who trust in his Son. He who has the power of condemnation is our Savior. He knows that we are so perfectly justified that we cannot be condemned. We raise the bold challenge: ‘Who is he that condemneth?’ With confident joy we reply, ‘No one can condemn us!’ With unshaken faith we declare, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.’ Does anyone ask, ‘What is the grounds of this confidence?’ Paul states it plainly: ‘it is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of the Father who also maketh intercession for us.’ Christ died as our Substitute; we cannot die. Christ has risen for our justification; we are justified. Christ is seated at the right hand of God; the work of our redemption is finished and accepted. Christ makes intercession for us; he must prevail; we must be saved.