No Condemnation

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ~ Romans 8:1-3

Romans 8 outlines for us our freedom from a death sentence.  The fact of it is we could never have kept ourselves perfect in the law, but when God sent His son to pay for our sins, if we have accepted this gift of salvation through Jesus, then we are now reserved for Him and Him only.  Our reservation in hell has been cancelled and our ticket of sin tore up.  I no longer have to worry about being judged by God, or worry about being “good enough”.  God’s son took my sins upon himself and once I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, my sins and judgement no longer hold me back as they have been taken care of – my record has been wiped clean.  Once you believe in Christ, you can no longer be separated from His love.  Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  There is no more condemnation for followers of Jesus – period.  We often let our conscience take over and continue to wear guilt and shame when Christ says we are free.  We need to take control of our minds and lay our shame and guilt at Jesus’ feet.  If we are in Him, we need to remind ourselves that we are free. Too many of us hold on to things we have done, or said in the past, but once you become a follower of Jesus, if He doesn't condemn you anymore, then why should you condemn yourself?  Let it go.  Give it to Him.  The best way to move forward is to confess to Christ your thoughts about the past, leave them at His feet and look to the future.  I once heard this saying, “there is a reason the rearview mirror is so small and the windshield is so big – you are supposed to stay focused on where you are going and only glance back once in a while to where you have been.”  I think the same could be said of our spiritual walk, our past, present and future.  Don’t get caught staring back.  Look forward.  Enjoy your freedom. ~ Amen