Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2240
“Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died.” Romans 8:34.
HERE are two very wonderful challenges thrown out by the Apostle Paul. First, he boldly defies anyone to charge the chosen of God with sin—“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” and then, even if any charges should be brought against them, he defies all our foes to secure an adverse verdict—“Who is he that condemns?” This would be a very bold challenge even for a man who had been righteous from his youth up! If there had been a man in the history of the world, who, from his infancy, had known God and who had grown up serving Him, devoting himself entirely to the cause of the Lord Christ, and if he had kept the Commandments without fail, as far as man could judge, it would be a very hazardous thing, even for him to say, “Who is he that condemns?” For human righteousness is only human—being human, it is finite and, being finite, it falls short somewhere or other. The best of men are but men at the best! To be a man is to be a fallen creature and, being fallen creatures, we cannot, of ourselves, perfectly please the thrice-holy Jehovah. In many things we all offend.
The man who uttered this challenge, “Who is he that condemns?” and uttered it under the Inspiration of God, did not, however, occupy the position of a sinless man. His early years had been spent in opposition to his Savior. He had been exceedingly vicious against the disciples of Christ and had persecuted them even unto strange cities! In another place he calls himself the very chief of sinners and yet it is this man who dares to ask the question, “Who is he that condemns?” It is a bold, brave challenge, but it never could have been uttered by Paul if it had not been accompanied by the next sentence, “It is Christ that dies.” First, he flings down the gauntlet and challenges a battle, crying, “Who is he that condemns?” And then he holds up a shield so broad that he is completely concealed behind it—and every enemy is defeated in the conflict—because, “It is Christ that died.”
Happy shall you and I be if, though covered with sin, though guilty and unclean, we nevertheless shall have faith to believe in the Christ that died—a faith so strong and confident that we shall dare to stand, both now, and at the Judgement Seat of Christ and say—“Who is he that condemns?” May we have this faith on our dying bed, when the pulse is faint and feeble, and heart and flesh begin to fail! May we still, between the very jaws of death, have solid confidence in God and dare to ask, before the presence of men and devils, too, “Who is he that condemns?” being made bold to do so because we have believed in the Christ that died!
Paul has, in this case, only one answer to the question, “Who is he that condemns?” He meets it by the blessed fact that, “It is Christ that died.” I recommend that we should, each one of us, have but one hope of salvation. As long as we have half-a-dozen, we have half-a-dozen doubtful ones. But when it comes to only one—and that such a sufficient one as the Truth of God that, “It is Christ that died”—we have a well-founded hope in which we may rest with confidence! Such a hope as this is “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” And the man who has this anchor on board the boat of his life can never suffer spiritual shipwreck!
When Emperor Charles the Fifth went to war with Francis the First, King of Naples, he sent a herald to him, declaring war in the name of the Emperor of Germany, King of Castille, King of Aragon, King of Naples, King of Sicily. And he went on with many more titles, giving his sovereign all the honors that were his due. When the herald of Francis the First took up the gage of battle, he would not be outdone in the list of honors, so he said, “I take up the challenge in the name of Francis the First, King of France; Francis the First, King of France; Francis the First, King of France; Francis
the First, King of France; Francis the First, King of France.” He just repeated his master’s name and office as many times as the other gentleman had titles. So it is a grand thing, whenever Satan comes and begins to accuse you, just to say, “Christ has died; Christ has died.” If any confront you with other confidences, still keep to this almighty plea, “Christ has died!”
If one says, “I was christened, and confirmed,” answer him by saying, “Christ has died.” Should another say, “I was baptized an adult,” let your confidence remain the same—“Christ has died.” When another says, “I am a sound, orthodox Presbyterian,” you stick to this solid ground—“Christ has died.” And if still another says, “I am a red-hot Methodist,” answer him in the same way—“Christ has died.” Whatever may be the confidences of others, and whatever may be your own, put them all away and keep to this one declaration—“It is Christ that died!” There is enough in that one Truth to include all that is excellent in the others and to answer all the accusations that may be brought against you! “Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died.” I would put the trumpet to my lips while I preach and sound out this one note, praying that it may be a death-blast to all accusations that can be brought against Believers in Christ.