ROMANS UNWRAPPED 153

3)  Who is he that condemneth? Christ who died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us?"  Romans 8v34

Paul is summing his teaching that there is "now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus."   In the words of Jesus Himself  "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved."   The world is condemned already, but Jesus came to save it, not to condemn it.   The hymn by A.T. Pierson comes to mind  "Not to condemn the world the Man of Sorrows came; but that the world might have salvation through His name.   That whosoever will believe shall everlasting life receive."   He didn't come to condemn the world, and He certainly won't condemn His believing people; and if the Christ will not condemn His people then no one will, because to Him the Father has committed all future judgment.   "For the Father judges no man but has committed all judgment to the Son; that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.   He that does not honour the Son, does not honour the father who sent Him."   John 5v22-23 

We first have to ask the question who is the Christ?   It means  "the anointed One"   He is the one chosen by God and anointed by God to accomplish and fulfill all His eternal purposes.   Whenever we read of the Christ we are to think of the One in whom all the purposes and all the promises and all the prophecies of God will be fulfilled.   Although He does not condemn the world now, He will in the future.   We have already cited John 5v2; we should also refer to Acts 17v31 and Revelation 1v18 where we are reminded that Jesus holds the keys of hell and death.

He makes four historical observations about Jesus.   He died, He rose again, He is at the right hand of God, He is interceding for all His people.   The question Paul is asking is, will the One who died and rose again and ascended to heaven's throne and occupies Himself constantly in the defence of His people, will such an One condemn us who have embraced Him and who believe in Him; the answer a thousand times no.   In summary of all these things, the Christ of God, the anointed One to accomplish all God's purposes has gone through death to deal with our sins, was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father in acknowledgement of His perfect work, was ascended and exalted to the throne of universal power where He now sits, and His primary occupation is to look after the interests of His people.   He will not condemn us; He died for us, and lives for us, then who will condemn us ?and the answer is obvious.  

At the risk of repetition and we cannot repeat these things often enough, Christ died for His people: 1st Corinthians 15v3  "He died for our sins"  Hebrews 2v9  "He tasted death for every man"  2nd Corinthians 5v14  "He died for all"  1st Timothy 2v6  "He gave Himself a ransom for all"  Titus 2v14  "Who gave Himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity"  Galatians 1v4  "Who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world."   The death of Christ was substitutionary and redemptive in its character and dealt with every aspect of human sin.  It is only effective in those who believe.  

That He rose from the dead was a ratification by God the Father of what He accomplished in going through death.   It is also an historical fact, that was witnessed by all the apostles and above five hundred brethren at one and the same time according to 1st Corinthians chapter 15.   His resurrection secures two basic things;  1st  the justification of all believers (Romans 4v25) and 2nd the judgement of all unbelievers (Acts 17v31). These two scriptures should be placed side by side in our thinking because they give us assurance of both these aspects affecting our world.   There are many believers who are justified, there are many unbelievers who will be condemned, and the same person Christ is at the centre of both.   His resurrection gives assurance of salvation to some, and assurance of judgement to others.   Christ will be a saviour to some and a judge to others.   Where will you be? because you will be in one camp or another.  

He ascended to heaven (Acts 1v9); (Ephesians 4v8) He is seated at the right hand of God, which is the seat of universal power (Ephesians 1v20-22) (Hebrews 1v3) from there He will subdue all things under His feet dealing with all the enemies of God (1st Corinthians 15v24-26)  "He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet."  

In the present time , while seated on the throne of power, He is actively engaged interceding for His people acting as an advocate in the presence of God.   God's people although saved, are not perfect yet, and are subject to sin as they have always been.   They are not encouraged to sin and indeed have the power to cease from sin if they could only find perfect obedience; however in this life it will not happen and they need an advocate to plead before the throne of God whenever they sin and this is the work that He does for them.   This truth is stated in the 1st John 2v1  "These things I write unto you that ye sin not.   and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.   This is what it means   "He lives to intercede for us."   In the event of the unrighteousness of His people, He pleads His own righteousness.  

In light of all that there is no possibility that Christ will condemn His people for whom He died and rose again and sits in glory and lives to intercede for them.   If Christ will not condemn them, no one can for all future judgement has been committed to Him.