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Octavius Winslow, 1856 (edited for
today's reader by Larry E. Wilson, 2010)
Bible Verse
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).
Devotional
"To those who are in Christ Jesus"—"I in them" (John 17:23); and "we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John. 5:20). Thus it is a mutual indwelling—Christ is in us and we in Christ. Here is our security.
The believer is in Christ as Jacob was in the garment of his elder brother when Isaac kissed him, and he "smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, 'See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!'" (Gen. 27:27).
He is in Christ as the poor killer was in the city of refuge when pursued by the avenger of blood, but who could not overtake and slay him.
He is in Christ as Noah was 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 images of the perfect security of a believer in Christ!
The believer is clothed with the garment of the Elder Brother, ("the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe" [Rom. 3:22]). 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 has blessed" (Gen. 27:27). 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), the believer 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 gathering storm ("the wrath to come" [Luke 3:7]), the believer has availed himself of the open door of the sacred ark (the crucified Savior), 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 walls no avenger can threaten. Christ Jesus is our hiding-place from the wind, and shelter from the tempest. And not one drop of the wrath to come can fall upon the soul that is in him.
Oh, how completely accepted and how perfectly secure is the sinner who is in Christ Jesus! He is saved on the basis of a Law whose honor is vindicated. He is saved through the clemency of a righteous Sovereign whose holiness is secured. He is saved through the mercy of a gracious God, the glory of whose moral government is eternally and illustriously exhibited. And now his head is lifted up above his enemies round about him; for there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!
Reader, are you in Christ Jesus? Is this your condition? Consider the solemn declaration—"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17). Are you that new creature? Prove, examine, and ascertain. For if you are not born again of the Spirit, then be sure that you are still under the curse and sentence of the law. Flee to Jesus. While condemnation is written in dark and gloomy characters upon the brow of every unbelieving sinner out of Christ, Christ says of all who have fled out of themselves to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24).
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure,
cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.
Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears for ever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to thy cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress,
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the Fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyelids close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
(Augustus M. Toplady, 1776)
Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.
Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2011.
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