The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-15
No Condemnation.

No Condemnation.
There is therefore, now, no condem-
nation to them that are in Christ Jesus.
Rom. viii: l. The expression is verv
significant one. 1t signifies that there is
class of people in this world, who are
now saved, and saved forever. A class
OF people who can look up to the heav-
ems, and the wide universe beyond it. and
the throne of God beyond that, and can
say, without the fear of contradiction, 4" l
know that have passed out of death
into lite, and shall never come into the
Judgment, and am as secure now as on
the very throne of God"
Who are these people? What special
claims have they and on what ground
DO they make such an assertion? Three
little words reveal the whole secret.
In Christ Jesus.
No condemnation to them that are in
Christ Jesus.
But again we may ask who are in
Christ Jesus ? and the Scriptures answer,
all who believe Gods testimony about
His Son; all who have accepted Him as
personal Saviour on Gods simple say
50"
There is three-fold way of being in
Christ.
|. By election.
Before all worlds God chose out from
the race of Adam, people whom He
determined to glorify with His Som
These people have been selected and or
dalned to eternal life, not because of any
foreseen merit in them, but solely because
it seemed good in the Fathers sight.
2. By standing or present character.
Every believer was at one time in Adam
under Adams curse. But the old crea-
ton standing for that believer ended at
the Gross, and the new creation standing
begun in the resurrection. God now
views every believer in Christ risen with
Him from among the dead, and seated
in the heavenly place. He sees him in
all the perfectness of the Christly charac-
ter, and beholds him without flaw or
spot
g. By vital union with Him.
By means of the Holy Ghost and the
Word, the Lord Jesus has communicated.
IN germ, His own nature to every believ-
er. Thus the source of this life is in
Christ. The outlet lis IN the believer
wherefore it is written, " He that is Joined
to the Lord is one spirit"
To all who are thus in Christ, it is said,
there is now no condemnation.
This grand fact rests upon trinity of
reasons.
l. 1t rests upon the death of Christ.
The death of Christ was for us. There
FORE Christ was condemned to death in
stead Of u.s. To condemn us now would
be to say l. That the death of Christ
was not sufficient. Q. 1t would be to say
there was no justice with God for He
would get two payments for one offense,
two payments for one debt. For God to
do either of these things, is to dishonor
Christ, His son, or to overthrow the sta
bility Of His own throne. founded, as that
is, in exact justice. The salvation of
every believer rests upon the fact that
Justice has been satisfied, that law has
been honored, that God has been glori-
fed in the death Of His Son. That the
question at issue between God and that
believing sinner is now ended forever.
Henceforth, the security of the trusting
soul Is coordinate with the Throne OF
God.
2. 1t rests upon the resurrection.
The resurrection of Christ is Gods
receipt to Him that He is satisfied with
what Christ has done. 1t is the receipt
given by the Lord Jesus, in the face of
all the universe, that He has discharged
the obligations laid upon Him. Before
God can condemn the soul that trusts in
Christ, He must deny the value of the
death at the Cross. He must demand
a re.trial and rejudgment. Tn order to
do this it would be necessary to take the
Lord Christ from the throne in heaven.
and nail Him to the tree again amid the
hootngs Of the cruel mob. This is true
by the law Of representation. He rep
reseDts US on the Cross. In virtue o.
that, He represents us on the throne. If
the representation in heaven is not salts
factory, there is nothing left but to %
down from that place to the hall Of scourg-