CHRIST PREACHED FREEDOM FROM ETERNAL CONDEMNATION

By Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

June 1, 2010

In John 5:24 Jesus said: Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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.

Jesus said once a person believes on him he has eternal life now and will not come into condemnation in the future. Condemnation is the same as the wrath of God. John 3:18 says those who do not believe on the Son are condemned and verse 36 says the wrath of God abides on them. A person who is condemned will suffer the wrath of God. If you are free from condemnation you will not suffer the wrath of God. You may suffer the wrath of man for millions of saints have. You may suffer the wrath of Satan for millions of saints do, but never the wrath of God. Freedom from condemnation means you are saved from the wrath of God.

What is the wrath of God and where will the lost suffer the wrath of God?

(a) The wrath of God is poured out on the condemned in hell. Hell is one place where sinners will suffer the wrath of God. That is why Christ warned people about hell throughout his ministry. In Matt. 10:28 he said; Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

(b) The wrath of God will be poured out on the condemned when Jesus comes in fire to take vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 says when Christ comes in flaming fire the lost will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.

(c) The wrath of God will poured out on the condemned in the lake of fire. The Lord said in Revelation 20:15 that whosoever is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

-Freedom from condemnation is deliverance from the wrath of God.
-If you are free from condemnation you will not suffer the wrath of God in hell.
-You will not suffer the fire and vengeance of God against the lost at Christ’s coming.
-And you will not suffer the everlasting torment of the lake of fire.

Paul preached freedom from condemnation and wrath also. In Romans 8:1 he wrote; There Is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

In Romans 5:9 he said: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

But was this a new revelation? No. Christ preached freedom from condemnation in his earthly ministry years before God saved Paul. Therefore who did Paul learn this truth from? Christ. Its no wonder he said that he followed Christ. Much of what Paul preached was based upon what Christ preached before him. When it came to preaching freedom from condemnation Paul followed Christ who preached this promise in his earthly ministry.