No Condemnation

From Octavius Winslow's book, No Condemnation in Christ Jesus

"Christian! There is NOW no condemnation for you. Be yours, then, a present and full joy. “Christ has made atonement and with it God is satisfied. And if so, well may you be satisfied — delighting yourselves greatly in the abundance of peace, going forth even now in the light an liberty of your present enlargement. 

In Christ they were chosen — to Christ they were betrothed — with Christ they were united — by Christ they are saved — and sitting with Christ on His throne, they shall reign with hi for ever and ever. 

It is a mutual in-dwelling — Christ in us, and we in Christ. Here is our security. The believer is in Christ as Jacob was in the garment of the elder brother when Isaac kissed him, and he “smelled the smell of the raiment, and blessed him and said, See, the smell of my son I was the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed.” He is in Christ, as the poor homicide was within the city of refuge when pursued by the avenger of blood, but who could not overtake an slay. He is in Christ as Noah was  enclosed within the ark, with the heavens darkening above him, and the waters heaving beneath him, yet with not a drop of the flood penetrating his vessel, nor a blast of the storm disturbing the serenity of his spirit.  How expressive are these scriptural emblems of the perfect security of a b believer in Christ! He is clothed with the garment of the Elder Brother, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, “Who is unto all, and upon all them that believe.” On that garment the Father’s hands are placed; in that robe the person of the believer is accepted; it is to God :as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed” the blessing of the heavenly birthright is his — and for him there is no condemnation. Pursued by the avenger of blood the threatenings of a condemning law, he has reached the city of refuge, the Lord Jesus Christ. Fearful and trembling, yet believing and hoping, he has crossed the sacred threshold, and in an instant he is safe — and for him there is no condemnation. Fleeing from the gather storm — “the wrath which is to come,” — he has availed himself of the open door of the sacred ark — the crucified Saviour — has entered, God shutting him in and for him, there is no condemnation. 

Yes, Christ Jesus is our sanctuary, beneath whose shadow we are safe. Christ Jesus is our strong tower, within whose embattlements no avenger can threaten. Christ Jesus is our hiding-place from the wind, and covert from the tempest; and no one drop of the “wrath to come” can fall upon the should that is in him. O how completely accepted, and how perfectly secure, the sinner who is in Christ Jesus! He feels he is saved on the basis of a law, whose honor is vindicated; through the clemency of a righteous Sovereign, whose holiness is secured; and through the mercy of a gracious God, the glory of whose moral government is eternally and illustriously exhibited. And now is his head lifted up above his enemies round about him; for there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.  

Reader, are you in Christ Jesus? Is this your condition? We repeat the solemn declaration, “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Are you that new creature? Prove, examine, and ascertain. For if you are not born again of the Spirit, be well assured you are still under the curse and sentence of the law. And while condemnation, in dark and gloomy characters is written upon the brow of every unbelieving sinner out of Christ, Christ has said of all who have fled out of themselves to him, He that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”