Condemnation and Almost Christians

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus

It's amazing how often this verse gets abused by people professing the name of Christ who want to excuse their sin. Who choose to go blind to the context of the verse and use it as a ticket to live however they want and still feel good about themselves. (Now of course I speak of myself as well, for I was surely no less guilty of taking part in this abuse of grace than anyone else.)

Let's look at the whole verse in context though.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful fles, on account of sin: He condemnded sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:1-8)

When reading that verse in the context of what Paul was saying here, it becomes pretty clear that you can't walk according to the flesh and receive no condemnation. You cannot profess to be a Christian and go on living in sin that grace may abound. You're either free from the law of sin and death, or you're walking in the law condemning your sinful flesh.

If this concerns you, you might consider reading a book by Matthew Mead titled The Almost Christian Discovered. In which are a list and description of things that many 'Almost Christians' do to convince themselves of their salvation, but who will be among the goats hearing, "Depart from me you worker of iniquity, I never knew you..." Scary stuff.