What a lovely promise and gift!
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Ro 8:1 NIV
Why is there no more condemnation for those of us who are in Christ? Because we have received the amazing gift of Salvation. This means we truly understand that Jesus has already paid the price for our sinful nature. That MMI, Pride-filled mentality that we do not need God. That false idea that we can somehow live on our own, and get to Heaven all by ourselves. That childish mindset that is convinced we know it all, so we got this! Have you ever seen a parent trying to feed a young child who insists they can feed themselves? When the parent gives them the spoon, there is more food on the floor then ever gets into his mouth, right? This is a picture of your and me when we try to live apart form God. We make a mess…how can guilt not be the result?
But when we mess up, because we will, what we DO with this guilt is vital! If we hold on to the guilt, then we are opening ourselves up to those old feelings of condemnation. The enemy is quick to affirm that we are no good because we have done something that is no good…and down we go into whatever “death symptom” usually controls you. Whether this is depression or anger at others, death is the goal of the enemy. Ahh, but if we take those feelings of guilt and humbly bring them to God, confessing what we have done, then receiving this forgiving Freedom He has already given us, then this verse becomes real to us. We drop the guilt, and NOW there is no more condemnation. We begin to understand there is a huge difference between WHO we are- forgiven and redeemed- and what we did- the sinful act. Let’s continue tomorrow…
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
June: 21- Lk 23:42; 22- Jas 4:7; 23- Pr 22:6; 24- Mt 5:3; 25- Jn 14:6
July: 26- Jas 2:19; 27- Dt 31:8; 28- Jn 14:15; 29- Jn 8:11
30- Ro 8:1
<>< Peace, Diane
