October 16, 2016 NO CONDEMNATION
Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If there is any good news in the scriptures and if there is any verse that calls for a celebration in our spirit, it is that there is “no condemnation” for us. It is interesting to note that this promise of no condemnation is reserved for those who “are in Christ Jesus.” How difficult it would be to live with a defiled conscience-a black cloud over our head-because of past actions that were wrong. (We will feel a sense of conviction if and win we sin, but that is different than feeling condemned.) If we are living, then there are things in our past that would call for our condemnation-a sobering thought. Many believers are haunted day and night by ‘ghost’ of the past, of memories from which they cannot escape no matter how they try. Often, it is our pride that says -“how could I do such a thing” or “I am so embarrassed by what I did,” and it is this pride that stands in the way of receiving God’s forgiveness. When we lay our pride aside and when we humbled ourselves before God-and others if need be-and confess and agree with God, that we sinned, then, and only then, are we forgiven and made clean. The sin in the heart of man was a barrier between man and God, and to remove this barrier, Jesus came and gave His life so that we might be forgiven and restored to Him. Knowing the great price that Jesus, and the Father, paid for our forgiveness, how tragic it is to reject, or not receive the forgiveness that is freely offered. We have all witnessed those occasions of celebration when in court, the verdict ‘not guilty’ is rendered, and the defendant walks from the court room with a new sense of relief and freedom. So it was with us; except we were guilty and we were condemned! In our case, someone else, whose name is Jesus, stood in our place and paid the ultimate price for our forgiveness and our freedom. We somehow have to grasp the fact that in spite of our past and even present sins and failures, we ARE NOT CONDEMENED! Just as in our court room example, celebration is called for because we have been set free from any and all sin and there is no more condemnation for us! There will be times when the memory of a past sin comes to mind, but when it does, we can use it as a springboard to remind ourselves of the forgiveness that God extended to us, and by so doing, we disarm the enemy and we take dominion over our thought life. I fear that many, if honest, will admit that all too often they experience a feeling of condemnation because of past failures. Let us welcome, let us embrace, let us accept as true, and let us celebrate the good news of the gospel that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
John 3:18: “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Galatians 5:1: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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