THERE’S NO MORE CONDEMNATION
I remember in my youth, in my first years of being a Christian hearing this phrase from an older and wiser man.
I felt guilty and worried about the mistakes and imperfections of my youth.
My mind was overwhelmed by questions. Doubts of being saved afflicted me because I did not “feel” I deserved to be Christian, I did not “feel” that the Lord had forgiven all my past, or my imperfections with which I struggled in my new Christian life.
But I received a great peace when that wise man read this to me:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:1-2
Of course, I also learned that God’s grace is not a licence to continue sinning. This verse doesn’t give me an excuse to give free rein to the passions and desires of the flesh and to violate the 10 commandments. It just removes condemnation of sin.
Knowing this produces the following in me:
- It returns my peace
- Sets me free from the spirit of guilt and allows me to sleep peacefully.
- Removes my shame. I no longer have anything to hide, nor do I have to torture myself because of my past. I am once again clean, there’s no more condemnation.
- Moves me to serve God with gratitude. I desire even more to serve God voluntarily. I don’t do it out of fear towards hell (there’s no more condemnation), I serve him out of pure gratitude.
There’s no more condemnation!
Think about it:
Have you felt guilty about your past?
What changes in you now that you know God doesn’t condemn you for your past?
What do you need to do to live according to the spirit and not according to the flesh?
