Who is he that condemneth
That is, the elect of God: all mankind are deserving of
condemnation, and are under the sentence of it, as in Adam; some
are foreordained to condemnation; all in final impenitence and
unbelief, are condemned already; and the whole world of the
ungodly will be condemned at the last day; but none of God's
elect are, or shall be condemned: for they are loved with an
everlasting love; they are chosen unto salvation; they are in
Christ, where there is no condemnation; they are brought to
believe in him, and by him are justified from all sin, and so are
secure from condemnation. They are indeed deserving of it as
others, considered in themselves; and are under the sentence of
it, as in Adam, with the rest of mankind; and in their own
apprehensions, when convinced of sin, righteousness, and
judgment. And are there none that will condemn them? yes, their
own hearts often condemn them; they are very forward to condemn
one another; the world condemns them, and so does the god of it:
but neither Father, Son, nor Spirit, will condemn them; not the
Father, for he justifies; nor the Son, for
it is Christ that died:
that he died is certain; the death he died was the death of the
cross; the persons he died for were God's elect; the reason of
his dying for them was to make atonement for their sins; this
came to pass through his substitution in their room and stead;
this death of his was but once, yet of an eternal efficacy, and
so a full security of them from all condemnation: for sin, the
cause of condemnation, was removed by it; the condemnation itself
was bore by Christ in their stead; the law and justice of God
were satisfied by it; pardon of sin was procured by his blood;
and complete justification obtained by his active and passive
obedience; all which is confirmed by his resurrection, session at
God's right hand, and intercession: wherefore it is added,
yea, rather that is risen again.
As the death, so the resurrection of Christ, is the security of
God's elect from condemnation; inasmuch as Christ rose again, as
a conqueror over death, and over sin, the sting of death, and
over Satan, who had the power of death; and also as a surety,
having given satisfaction to law and justice: he engaged as a
surety for his people; God in justice, and according to his
righteous law, dealt with him, and by him as such; he satisfied
both, and therefore was set free by them; hence neither law nor
justice can condemn; besides he rose again as a common person,
head and representative of his people, and for their
justification: he first stood charged with all their sins, which
by his Father, and with his own consent, were imputed to him; he
was condemned and suffered death for them; when he rose from the
dead, he was justified and acquitted from them all; and all his
people were justified in him, and with him: yea, the resurrection
of Christ is rather a greater security from condemnation, than
his death; Christ's death expiated sin, but his resurrection
brought in the everlasting righteousness; notwithstanding
Christ's death, had he not risen again, we should have been in
our sins, and so liable to condemnation; Christ's dying showed
that he was arrested and condemned, but his resurrection shows
that he is discharged, and we in him:
who is even at the right hand of God.
The ascension of Christ, his entrance into heaven, and session at
the right hand of God, are also a very considerable security of
God's elect from condemnation; for when he ascended from earth to
heaven in human nature, accompanied by angels, of which they and
his disciples were witnesses, he led captivity captive, or
triumphed over those that led his people captive, as sin, Satan,
the law, death, and every other enemy of theirs; he entered into
heaven to prepare it for them, to take possession of it in their
name, to appear in the presence of God for them, and as having
obtained the eternal redemption of them, where he was received
with a welcome, as the surety and head of the chosen ones, and
then sat down at the right hand of God; which shows that he had
done his work, and to satisfaction, is advanced above all, power
is given to him, all things are put under him, and he is head
over all things to the church: and since he is at the right hand
of God, as an advocate and intercessor for his people, it will be
to no purpose, and of no avail, that Satan, or any other enemy,
is at their right hand to resist them:
who also maketh intercession for us;
which is done, not by vocal prayer, as in the days of his flesh
on earth; or as supplicating an angry judge; or as controverting:
a point in the court of heaven; but by the appearance of his
person for us, by the presentation of his sacrifice, by offering
up the prayers and praises of his people, by declaring it as his
will, that such and such blessings be bestowed upon them, and by
seeing to it, that the benefits of his death are applied to
those, for whom they were designed; which intercession of Christ
proceeds upon the foot of a satisfaction made; it always
continues, and is ever prevalent, and so has a considerable
influence to secure from condemnation. The apostle, in this
verse, seems to have in view a passage in ( Job 34:29 ) ; which the
Septuagint render, "and he gives peace, and who is he that
condemneth?"