Often you hear people use the term “God punish you” and many take offense when it is directed to them. However, if you are a born again, i have good news for you. You are the righteousness of God in christ Jesus and God will never punish you because Jesus already took all the punishment you deserve.
Romans 8:1 says “…There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
The Greek word rendered condemnation is “katakrima,” it is a combination of two words, katá, which means “down or according to, and kríma, which signifies “the results of judgment”. Thus “Katakrima” connotes: “according to the result of judgement”. In other words it is the exact sentence of condemnation handed down after due process (establishing guilt) or punishment following condemnation.
Thus, showing that everyone who is in Christ stands free from guilt and will not be punished for their sins.
However, King James’ rendering of verse makes it confusing, It makes it look as if there is no condemnation only for certain class of believers – the matured Christian or those who walk after the spirit or are spirit ruled. While those who are born again, but are still babes in Christ or are ruled by their senses(walk after the flesh) are still under condemnation.
Remember, Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth spoke about these two class of Christians, saying,… I could not speak unto as spiritual (spirit ruled), but as unto carnals, as unto babes in Christ.(1Corinthians 3:1).
However, a look at the original rendering to this text shows that the phrase “who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit,” is missing. Meaning it was added by the translators because of bais, due to lack of understanding of righteousness, they couldn’t believe that every one who is in Christ stand free from guilt.
You see, this is the problem with the church today, they continue to allow their conduct or behaviour to question their righteousness or right standing with God.
Now, If King James’s rendering were to hold true, it therefore infers that these brethren who were made righteous by faith in Christ Jesus, whom Paul described their behaviour as envy, strife and division ( 1 Cor 3:3)… still stood condemned.
However, righteousness has nothing to do with your behaviour or the way you act. Righteousness has to do with the way you were made. Holiness deals with your behaviour or the way you act.
The original simply reads: “…There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ.” This Means that everyone who in Christ stands free from guilt, will not punished for their sins.
You may ask, why is this?
You see, though Adam’s sin alienated man from the life of God, it couldn’t separate him from the love of God.
God so love you that he gave Jesus…(John3:16) …who was delivered for our offences…(Romans 4:25) The word delivered originates from the Greek word “paradidōmi,” which also means judged , punished or condemned.
Put differently, “ Jesus was judged , punished or condemned for our offences.” He was judged, punished or condemned for our transgression. He took the fall for the sins we committed and will ever commit.
He made him who knew to sin to be sin offering (2cor 5:21,..God sending his son in the likeness of sin and as a sin offering… Romans 8:3)…, meaning all of your sins, past, present and future, was laid on him, transferred to him. Charged to his account….” to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. (2 Cor 5:19)
When was this done? 2000 plus years ago,… »while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). The inference is that your past sin which was in your future 2000 years ago was charged to the account of Jesus. Your present sin which was in your future 2000 years ago was charged to the account of Jesus. You future sin which was in your future 2000 years ago was charged to the account of Jesus. Hallelujah !!!
The reason that God does not impute any of our sins to us is that He has already imputed all of them to the body of His Son Jesus when He hung on the cross 2,000 years ago.
Not only that, when God punished His Son for our sins, He caused the curses of the law to fall stroke by stroke upon Jesus’ entire body until every curse had been fully satisfied.
That is why we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13) That is why, instead of imputing sin to us, God imputes righteousness! To Be Continued !!!
Pastor Emmanuel Asiwe, Joint Heirs International,#441 Cresecent, Brockton MA 02302 : Worship Hours: Sunday 10a.m, Wednesday 7p.m, Saturday 6a.m : Phone:508-510-5540
