Yes—'no condemnation' means that for those who are in Christ Jesus, God has nothing to hold against them and they will never face condemnation.
Romans 8:1 declares that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Les Feldick teaches that this means exactly what it says: there is nothing God can bring against us in condemnation if we are in Christ. This promise is conditional and qualified—it applies to those in Christ Jesus, not to every person—because every child of Adam is under condemnation until they believe the gospel.
Romans 8:1 — This is the verse in question, explicitly stating there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 declares, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' The verse attaches the removal of condemnation to being 'in Christ Jesus.' Scripture also shows why condemnation is the natural state of every person: Romans 5:16 explains that 'the judgment was by one to condemnation,' and Romans 5:18 says, 'by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.' The answer to that condemnation is found in being in Christ, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: 'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' Romans 5:8 also describes the condition of all who need salvation: 'while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'
Les Feldick teaches that Romans 8:1 is a tremendous statement of assurance. He says 'no condemnation' means what it says: for those in Christ Jesus, there is nothing God can bring against them in condemnation, just as nothing could touch Noah and his family once the ark door was shut against the waters of judgment. He also notes that the closing phrase of Romans 8:1 in the KJV, 'who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,' was likely added by someone not inspired and was not in the original manuscripts; the first part of the verse is all we need.
Scripture shows that through Adam's one offense, judgment came upon all men to condemnation (Romans 5:16, 18). Les Feldick builds on this by explaining that Adam plunged the human race into condemnation with his act of sin, so every child of Adam—every person—is under a condemnation. He also says God has decreed every child of Adam as being a sinner, not because of their lifestyle but because of their descent from Adam, and they remain sinners until they are saved by believing the gospel.
No. Les Feldick emphasizes that Romans 8:1 says 'to them who are in Christ Jesus.' He describes this as conditional and qualifying, making clear that the promise does not cover the whole human race. All those members of the human race who are in Christ Jesus will never face condemnation, but the verse is not a blanket promise for everyone.
Les Feldick teaches that believing the gospel is what places a person in Christ. He connects this to the indwelling Holy Spirit: if you have believed the gospel with all your heart, the Holy Spirit is in you, and therefore you are in Christ and there is now no condemnation. He also warns that church membership, walking the aisle, or rote repetition of a procedure does not save. Only genuine belief in the gospel brings the promise of no condemnation, and such a person is a child of God and always will be.
Les Feldick points out that Romans 8 starts with this tremendous statement and then keeps building. Paul is referring back to everything he has written before and moving forward to the climactic assurance in Romans 8:31—'What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?' The opening declaration of no condemnation is the foundation for the whole chapter's message of security and assurance.
Les Feldick explains that just about every commentary and scholar he has read maintains that the last part of Romans 8:1 was never in the original manuscripts; it appears only in a few. He says someone, not inspired, added 'who walked not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,' because it comes up later in the chapter where it is appropriate. He concludes that the first part of the verse—'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus'—is all we need.
Romans 8:2 Explained — Free from the Law of Sin and Death
As I said in the last program, we don't attempt to make any profit from anything we do. The Lord has seen fit so far to supply all our needs, and we're branching out. We just started on a Columbus, Ohio station last Sunday, and we trust that by God's grace as more opportunities present themselves, we'll be reaching out to more and more people.
The Promise Defined
Les defines Romans 8:1 literally: if we are in Christ Jesus, there is nothing God can bring against us in condemnation, just as nothing could touch Noah and his family once the ark door was shut.
Evidence of Being in Christ
Les links being in Christ with the indwelling Holy Spirit: those who have believed the gospel have the Spirit, so there is now no condemnation.
A Conditional Promise
Les stresses that the phrase 'to them which are in Christ Jesus' is conditional and does not cover the whole human race, but every believer can rely on never facing condemnation.
Context in Romans 8
Les shows that Romans 8:1 is the foundation of the chapter, building to the assurance that if God is for us, nothing can stand against us.
Condemnation from Adam
Les explains that Adam's one offense plunged the human race into condemnation, so every person is under condemnation by nature.
All Are Sinners in Adam
Les teaches that every child of Adam is a sinner by God's decree, not merely because of behavior, and remains a sinner until saved by believing the gospel.
Genuine Faith vs. Ritual
Les warns that church membership, walking the aisle, and rote repetition do not save; only genuine belief in the gospel brings the promise of no condemnation, and that security is permanent.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
This is the verse being asked about, directly declaring that condemnation is removed for those in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:16: And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
This verse shows that Adam's one offense brought condemnation to all.
Romans 5:18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
This verse explains why every person is under condemnation and points to the solution in Christ.
Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Les references this verse to show that all believers were once sinners under Adam before being saved.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This verse reinforces what it means to be 'in Christ' and connects to the new creation work of God.
The main point is that those who are in Christ Jesus have no condemnation. God has nothing to bring against them, and they will never face condemnation. The promise is for believers, not for the whole human race.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the phrase 'to them which are in Christ Jesus' is conditional and qualifying. It does not cover the whole human race, but it is a certain promise for all who are in Christ Jesus.
Les Feldick teaches that if you have genuinely believed the gospel, the Holy Spirit is in you, and that means you are in Christ. This is not about church membership, walking an aisle, or repeating a ritual—it is about genuine faith in the gospel.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:2 Explained — Free from the Law of Sin and Death