Romans - Part 4: SPIRITSample

Life in the Spirit / No Condemnation

Romans: 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

NO CONDEMNATION – EVEN NOW!

As we move into the amazing, vastly rich, Chapter 8, Paul begins with this: “Therefore, now…” And so, we should ask, “What is it there for?”

In Chapter 7, Paul writes, “Oh wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death?”

He talks of doing what he shouldn't do and not doing what he should. This is a conflict; it’s life’s ongoing battle between the flesh (our sinful nature) and the Spirit. We have a problem—namely, this indwelling sin of self (our flesh), common to everyone; it wars within us. We sin, we fall, and then, we repent. Again & again this cycle repeats throughout our lives. Only by the grace of God do we grow and mature, experiencing snippets of victory over our flesh. But do we ever stop sinning?

1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Feeling condemned, anyone? Are we “saved,” then sin? Are we “lost” and then repent and repeat this cycle? Answer: no! We are “IN” Jesus. We have been bought and paid for and can take comfort in the knowledge that we belong to Jesus. “There is therefore, now, no condemnation!” We are saved, even now, by hope, hope in Christ, and His atoning blood payment for us. On the cross, Jesus cried out, “IT IS FINISHED” and therefore, reconciled our deserved “condemnation” with the greatest gift/payment ever transacted: the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our condemnation was paid for by the most precious, valuable thing in all of creation!

How can it be that You and I are worth that?!

Thanks be to God; we are shown mercy by Jesus purchasing our “pardon,” removing the punishment we deserve, so we can stand before Him as perfectly clean souls. From the cross, Jesus is saying, (oh wretched man), “It is my pleasure to die for YOU!” Wow. He has paid our debt for us. What Amazing Love! Let us “walk not” according to the flesh, but walk with confidence, by the Spirit, according to the Spirit that is within us. The charge has not changed: We are found “guilty,” but the payment is marked “Paid in Full!” Jesus paid for it. There is no condemnation for us because Jesus Changes Everything!

Grace & Peace,

-Rick Ripley