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 rectification. When a guilty sinner comes to faith in Christ one of the greatest benefits and blessings of his new relationship with God is the removal of condemnation and the experimental peace that he has with God in his heart. One of the most blessed chapters in the Bible is Romans eight, here we have the declaration of acquittal, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” 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 of, pardon is that which we need most.” Personally, I doubt that Henry the VIII ever received that pardon he most needed, but that we leave 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. 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! 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. “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 for Christ’s sake. “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25). Therefore there can be no condemnation to those who believe on Christ.
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