No Condemnation

 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit”. (Romans 8:1-4)

So, how is it possible for sinful people to be free from condemnation?  The key is Jesus. Look at what Paul tells us. First, he tells us that the Law was powerless to save us. This is not because God’s Law is weak. God’s Law is perfect and a sufficient guide for our lives. God’s law cannot save us because our sinful nature makes it impossible for us to keep that Law perfectly. So, God sent his son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. We are told that God sent Christ in the “likeness of sinful man”. The term “likeness” doesn’t mean that Jesus wasn’t truly human. It means that he was flesh and blood just like we are, but without the stain of sin that we carry with us.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he explains that though Jesus was part of God, he set aside his rights as God and humbled himself and became fully a human being. Paul tells us that Jesus put the privileges of His deity (or god-ness) into a “trust”.  He was still God, but He did not draw upon His goodness, so He could identify fully with sinful man.  The difference however is that Jesus did not fall to temptation. He was tempted in every way that we were but was without sin.

Paul tells us that the purpose of Jesus being sent by God was, so He could be a sin offering. Jesus came to earth to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the perfect sacrifice because He pays for all the sin (that which we recognize as sin and that which we don’t) and pays for it completely (you don’t have to continue to offer the sacrifice).  So, God can declare us “Not guilty” because Jesus paid for our sin. There is no condemnation because Jesus took our penalty. God is not overlooking our sin; He is dealing with it in Christ.

We have offended, hurt, and tried to murder God over and over and over again. We are serial sinners. Yet, God does not give up on us. Instead, He sent His Son, Jesus to take on the likeness of sinful flesh. But this is not all He does. He pays for our sin and then gives us a part of Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit to make us knew and to help us overcome the law of sin and death that is in our body.

God’s Spirit makes it possible for us to overcome the law of sin and death. As believers we are just learning about the Spirit’s power (we will hear much more about the Holy Spirit in the remainder of Romans). At first, we will fail in our attempts to “fly”. But as we continue to learn how to depend on the strength the Spirit gives us, we will at first fly for short distances. As we continue to learn and grow, we will eventually learn to soar like a bird. 

God gives us His Spirit so that we might be transformed. When we follow Jesus, we will not follow perfectly. We will continue to struggle. There will be ups and downs. There will be good days and bad days. But the change has begun. We are in the process of learning to fly. When we put our trust in Christ it is like coming out of surgery. The sickness is removed; and now the rehab must begin.

There is no condemnation!! The burden you carry is not from God. You can leave your past, your regret, your embarrassment, and your shame at the foot of the cross. So, the question that remains is this one: have you placed your faith, trust, and confidence in Jesus as your Savior and wonderful Lord?  His invitation is simple, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

May God Bless you and keep you and may these words help you renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas