A man is charged with a crime whether guilty or not. He goes to court with hope of hearing a “not guilty” verdict at the consummation of his trial. The entire human race stands in a guilty state before God and must one day come to His court of justice. If the condemnation is not removed in this life there certainly will be no possibility in that great day of retribution. When a guilty sinner comes to faith in Christ the greatest benefit and blessing of his new relationship with God is the removal of condemnation and the experimental peace with God that he has in his heart. One of the most blessed chapters in the Bible is Romans eight, which begins with the declaration of acquittal, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” King Henry the VIII of England said, “The world was once a paradise: it is now a prison and we who live and move in it are criminals in the hands of justice, and are liable every hour to be called to our trial and execution. It is clear then, that of all the blessings we ever heard, pardon is that which we most need.” Personally, I doubt that Henry the VIII ever received that pardon he most needed, but we leave that in the hands of Him who does right by all men. Yet with his statement, “Pardon is that which we need most,” I heartily agree. We need not wealth, popularity, acceptance with men, etc; we need our sins remitted, we need forgiveness from God. Where is forgiveness to be found? How shall we who are guilty of transgression before an ineffably Holy God be acquitted of our crime? By mercy alone, for the sake of Jesus alone! My dear ones, God forgives sinners for Jesus’ sake. In the Epistle to the Ephesians Paul uses the little preposition ‘in’ ten times in the first thirteen verses. He uses it in relation to union with Christ. He said that we who believe on Christ are blessed in Him, chosen in Him, accepted in him, and in verse seven He says, “In whom (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Therefore we understand that if God does these things for a sinner who believes on Christ to the saving of his soul, He receives acquittal from his sins. Let me show you from the words of Christ Himself, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Why can there be no condemnation to those who believe on Christ? Because of Him who declares their acquittal. You see a declaration of acquittal is a declaration of justification. To be declared just before God is to be declared innocent in Christ. I give you this declaration from the inspired Holy Scriptures, “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins…I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee “(Isa.43:25 & 44:22). You see the reason there can be no condemnation to those that believe on Christ is due to the One who declares their innocence. The classic declaration is Romans 8:33, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”
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