He Who Spared Not His Own Son

The Question: Who is He That Condemneth?

0:00 gold mine of biblical truth. This week we will be examining another nugget from that mine found in verse 33, where the question is raised, who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea, rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. We will be considering these words under three headings.

0:38 First, the question raised, who is he that condemneth? Secondly, the answer which is obviously assumed, no one. And thirdly, the basis for that assumed answer. Please join us now for this week's exposition of the word of God.

1:00 First of all, then, consider with me the question which is raised on the threshold of this text. Who is he that condemns, or who is the one who condemns? In this particular question, the apostle Paul is hurling into the face of the entire universe a simple but very vital question. He is asking, where is the man? Where is the woman? Where is

1:36 the boy? Where is the girl? Where is the angel? Where is the devil? Where is the demon? Where is

1:45 any intelligent creature who can justly lay the charge of guilt and deserved punishment upon any one of the people? Who is the one that condemns? Condemnation obviously in this text being that which results from guilt. Guilt obviously that which results from sin that is unforgiven. And so the apostle

2:17 throws this question out into the face of the entire intelligent universe of men and angels and devils and ask, where is the man? Where is the woman? Where is the man? Where is the devil?

2:28 Where is that person, from whatever circumstance, who can lay a just claim of condemnation at the door of any one of the people of God? Now this question is an amazing question. And it is all the more amazing because when we consider the person who raises it in this text, the Apostle Paul, we realize that he does not raise it as one who is either ignorant of the extent of the problem of sin, or one who is ignorant of the character of God with respect to how God regards sin.

3:12 This is a man who said of himself, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. This is the very one who earlier in this epistle wrote, The wages of sin is death. This is the one who wrote even earlier in the epistle, The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. And then went on to demonstrate that all men, Jew and Gentile, with or without the light of scripture, stand under the condemnation of Almighty God.

3:56 Now, Now, How does such a man dare to hurl this question into the face of all the intelligent creatures of the universe? Where is the one who will dare to condemn the least of the people of God?

The Assumed Answer: No One

4:15 That's the question which he raises. Now, in the second place, there is an answer which he assumes. And the answer which he assumes is that there is no one, Man, woman, boy, girl, angel, demon, devil, archangel, archdemon, whoever he be, who can justly lay the claim of condemnation at the door of the child of God. Obviously, his own conscience at the point of writing these words was utterly free from condemnation.

4:56 A man who knew himself, A man who knew himself to be by nature the chief of sinners. A man who includes himself with all other men as having sinned in Adam. A man who includes himself with Jew and Gentile as standing under the curse of a broken law. And yet he says, Who is he that condemns and assumes that the answer is, There is none who can justly condemn.

The Basis of Confidence: Christ Jesus Who Died

5:26 Now, this brings us to the heart of our study. What was the basis? Of this confidence with respect to the answer. Well, I do like the New American Standard Version Translation in verse 34, because though it may be awkward English, It's not atrocious English, it's a bit awkward.

5:46 It does bring forward the force of the original. Will you notice, as I read this translation, and many of you have this translation, Who is the one that condemns? Now, when the apostle would say, Who would show the basis for the confidence he has in that assumed answer, There is none to condemn. The first word is Christ.

6:11 And that's the way it is in the original. After the question is raised, You have the first word, Christ. And in a sense, that's the last word.

6:25 What is the basis for such confidence? It is nothing in the apostle. It is in something wholly external to him. And the entirety of the answer is summarized in the first word of the answer.

6:44 Christ. Christ. Christ Jesus is he who died. Yea, rather, who was raised.

6:54 Who is at the right hand of God. Who also intercedes for us. You see what the apostle does in laying bare, To us, what we might call the inner workings of his own mind and heart, In relationship to the great realities of God and sin. He tells us that this great confidence is rooted, Essentially, in four objective activities of Jesus Christ.

7:30 In other words, the basis for this confidence lay not in himself, But in a spirit given understanding of, And humble confidence in, The person and work of Jesus Christ. And no one, no one, no one, Of any age, under any circumstances, Who begins to appreciate, Who God is in his holiness and justice, And what he is as a sinner, In Adam, by practice, Not only if you are yet in your sins,

8:14 But if that person is even a believer, Who yet wrestles with sin, No one will ever come to the apostle's confidence, In the light of those great realities, Until he comes to grips with these four objective activities, Of the person of Jesus Christ, And in humble dependence, Upon Christ, And those activities, Finds rest of conscience. Now let's examine them briefly. The apostle simply gives these brief statements, Assuming that we will pack into them, The richness of the teaching,

8:58 Not only previously given in this epistle, But of the general teaching of the word of God. And we'll seek briefly to demonstrate, How these objective, These objective acts, In the life history of the Lord Jesus Christ, Combined to set the apostle's conscience at rest, And why it was that the constant humble dependence upon them, Kept his conscience at rest. First of all he makes an allusion, Or a statement concerning the death of Christ. Christ Jesus is he, Who died.

9:40 He died in the capacity of being spared not, But delivered up by the Father, Unto the wrath and curse of Almighty God. He died in the capacity, Described in Romans 8, 3, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, And for sin, Condemned sin in the flesh, That is in the flesh of the Son of God. When he says Christ Jesus is he who died, We must pack into that little phrase, Who died. The teaching of Romans 4, 25,

The Basis of Confidence: Christ Jesus Who Was Raised

10:22 He was delivered up because, Or on account of our transgressions. But then he makes this simple statement, Concerning the resurrection of Christ. Christ Jesus is he, Who died, Yea rather, Who was raised, Or as some of the manuscripts have it, Who was raised from the dead, In either case, There is no significant difference. He was raised.

10:55 That is there was a literal, Physical resurrection. The same person who went into the tomb, Came out of the tomb, With newness of life. And poured into that simple terminology, Christ Jesus was raised. Is the teaching of this epistle.

11:14 Raised for our justification. Romans 4, 25. Declared to be the Son of God with power, By the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1 and verse 4.

11:27 And so the apostle lets us know, That he dares to throw out the challenge, To the entire intelligent universe. Where is the one who can condemn? He says, I have that confidence, Because I have come to accept the facts, And the significance of the facts, In the death of Christ, And in humble dependence upon those facts, My conscience is at rest. I have come to accept the fact, Of a literal bodily resurrection, And the biblical description, Of the significance of those facts, And in humble dependence, Upon the realities of those facts, My conscience, Is at rest.

The Basis of Confidence: Christ Jesus Who Is at the Right Hand of God

12:10 Then he goes on to a third fact. The session, The heavenly session of Christ. He was not only raised, But he says, Who is at the right hand of God. Now the terminology, The right hand of God, Is a figure of speech.

12:29 But it points to a reality. And the right hand of God, Is the place of power. It is the place of authority. It is the place of enthronement.

12:41 And if we had time, We could trace out this rich vein of thought, In the scriptures. But suffice it to say, That perhaps there is in Ephesians chapter 1, The best distillation, Of all of that rich teaching in the Bible, To be found in any one passage. We read in Ephesians chapter 1, Concerning the mighty power of God, Which he wrought in Christ, Verse 20, When he raised, Raised him from the dead, And seated him at his right hand, In the heavenly places, Far above all rule, And authority, And power, And dominion, And every name that is named,

13:25 Not only in this age, But in that which is to come. And he put all things in subjection, Under his feet. There you have a distillation, Of the significance, Of the fact, That somewhere in the universe, This very night, As much as I am now standing, On the right hand of this pulpit, Somewhere in the universe, And if we could be transported there, We could actually touch a body, The body of the glorified son of God. And from that position, He exerts an authority and power,

14:10 That is unlimited, And that is universal. And it is a power particularly calculated, To accomplish the purposes of redemption. He is given head over all things, To the church. That's why he brings in close conjunction, His authority as mediator, And the work of the gospel.

14:32 All authority has been given unto me, In heaven and in earth. Going therefore, Make disciples, Baptize them, Teach them, Lo, I am with you always. So when the apostle throws out the question, Who is he that can condemn? The basis of that assumed answer, There is none that can condemn.

14:56 Again I emphasize, It lies outside of the realm of his own feelings, Outside the realm of his own felt consciousness, Of the presence of God. It is rooted in the great reality, Christ is seated, At the place of power, To do what? To accomplish in every sinner who trusts him, All that he has promised to do, For such sinners. And he has all authority, And everything is under his foot, With reference to the salvation, And care of his church.

15:34 God said to his son, Sit at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies the footstool, Of thy feet. And in 1 Corinthians 15 we read, He must reign, Till he has put all enemies beneath his feet, And the last enemy to be destroyed, Is death. And in the context you see, It is death with respect, To the bodily resurrection, The consummation of redemption, For the people of God, And Christ is reigning to do what? He is reigning, To complete the salvation of poor sinners, Such as you.

The Basis of Confidence: Christ Jesus Who Also Makes Intercession for Us

16:11 And such is the one standing before you. Then there is a fourth great fact, That forms the final building block, In this great base of confidence, And it is the fact, Of the intercession of Christ. And here we move from a historical, Once for all act, In what we call the history of redemption, Christ died, Christ was raised, Christ was seated, But now we are pointing, To a present and a continuous, Activity of Christ, Who also makes intercession for us.

16:53 As one has very tersely stated, His session points to his power to save us, His intercession to his will to save us. His session puts him in the place of power, His intercession, Manifests the will of that power exercise, For our salvation. How do we know that? Well a text like Hebrews 7.25,

17:25 Asserts it in such plain terms, Listen to the words of that text, Wherefore he is able to save, Even to the uttermost, Those who come unto God by him, Why? Seeing, He ever liveth, To make intercession for them, His saving them to the uttermost, To a completed salvation, Is the end of his intercession, And that end cannot be frustrated, And we must not think of the intercession, In terms of a humble pleading of Christ, Rather it is a regal assertion,

18:09 Of his rights as the redeemer, Did he die, To bring many sons, What? Just a foot, Or two feet, Or three miles, Or twenty miles upon the way, No the writer to Hebrews says, He died to bring many sons, All the way to glory, He died to bring many sons to glory, Now he intercedes, In a royal intercession, Asserting as it were, In his role as mediator, The claims that he has, Upon the Godhead, With respect to the salvation of the people, And you find a very strong suggestion of this, If not an explicit statement of it, In the very language of his intercession, In John 17 and verse 24,

18:53 This is how he prays, I will, Not I ask, But I will, That they whom thou hast given me, Be with me where I am, That they may behold my glory, Now isn't that a strange kind of intercession, When you and I intercede, We take the place, Of a suppliant, We plead, But he wills, I will, That they whom thou hast given me, Be with me where I am, And it's in that intercession of Christ, The apostle says, That he has the final building block, Of this solid, This unchangeable base of confidence, That enables him to cry out,

19:35 Who is the one who can bring, Any valid charge of condemnation, To the least of God's elect, There is not a one, Why? Because Christ died, Satisfying all the demands of a broken law, Christ was raised from the dead, The vindication of all the claims of his person, The validation of all the claims, With respect to his work, He was raised to the right hand, Of the father, The position of power, In which to accomplish, All that he purposed to do, In his death and resurrection,

20:19 And he intercedes, And in a very special way, It is the intercession, Which secures, Which acts as the capstone, Over all of his redemptive activities, Does the believer have sin, Yet within him, Is not that same act, An affront to God, An offense to his law, Does it not in itself, Viewed in isolation, Provoke the anger and wrath of God, As much as anyone else's sin, Yes, But because he belongs to Christ, He has an advocate, One who pleads his cause, If any man sin, We have an advocate, With the father, Jesus Christ the righteous,

Application to Unbelievers: The Reality of Condemnation Without Christ

21:04 Or in the language that we read this morning, If we were reconciled to God, By the death of his son, Much more being reconciled, We shall be saved by his life, How? By what activity of his life? By that life that he ever lives, In which to intercede for us, His people, And I say in closing, To those of you who are not in Christ, When the question is asked, Who is the one who condemns? There's an answer to that question, In your case, Who is the one who condemns?

21:39 My friend, If you're honest, Your own conscience, Is all the bar of condemnation, You need sitting here tonight, If you've not depended of your sin, And fled to Christ, Your conscience, Is your accuser, Sitting in this place tonight, As much as you may try, To pervert the voice of conscience, Stifle that voice, Your own conscience, Is all the accuser you need, That you are in a state of condemnation, That's why your sin, Always has that worm, In the gourd of its pleasure, That afterthought, That bad taste, In the mouth of that dainty, Upon which you have fed, That's conscience, That worm,

22:23 In that gourd of pleasure, But not only does conscience condemn, The word and law of God condemns you, The soul that sinneth it shall die, The wages of sin is death, Who is he that condemns, My friend, The doctrine of condemnation for sin, Is not some carryover, From a dark, dreary, Spooky kind of medieval Christianity, It is the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, And of his apostles, And unless you flee to Christ, There is nothing but condemnation for you, And that's why this chapter opens, With those glorious words,

23:07 There is therefore now no condemnation, To those who are aware, In Christ Jesus, Until you are in Christ, There is nothing but condemnation, And you say preacher, How do I get into Christ, Well my friend, If I could put you there physically, I'd do my best to get you there, But there is nothing, That any man can do, To put you into Christ, Nothing any church can do, No ritual, No ceremony, There is but one way, To get into Christ, And that is to believe into him, And that's the very language, Of the Bible, That whosoever believeth in, Or into him, Faith is that bond, Which unites you to him, And so I call upon you,

23:51 In the name of Christ, To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, And thou shalt be saved, May God grant that even here this night, Some who perhaps for years have wondered, How can I ever face the thought, Of judgment, With anything other than dread, Or maybe some wishful thinking, That somehow or other, The God that I instinctively know, Must judge him, Romans 1.32, Somehow hope and wish, That he'll be less, Than what I know him to be, Oh my friend, If you're a person like that, Listen, Don't stake, Don't stake your eternal destiny,

24:36 On wishful thinking, You will find no resting place, For conscience, You will find no resting place, In the light of scripture, Until you come to rest, In the Lord Jesus Christ, You say, That's too simple, I've got to do something, I've got to perform something, My friend, Don't you argue with God's method, Of saving sinners, Romans 10 speaks of the people, Who would not submit themselves, To the righteousness of God, This demands an act of submission, On your part, You've got to say, God, You know better than I, How to take care of sinners, Because in the long run, You're going to dispose of sinners, In the end, Heaven or hell, Now Lord,

25:20 I better get with it, And I better submit, To your way, Of saving sinners, Your way, Of forgiving sinners, And God's way,