Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. - Romans 8:1 NASB
Looking up words to understand the meaning has helped me process the work God is trying to accomplish in my heart and mind. When I see “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” I wonder how I can apply this.
Condemnation, refers to blame, accuse, punish, and a charge against us. Thankfully, we can say, “who are in Christ Jesus,” are those who received Christ as Savior, there is no longer a charge against us before God. We can approach His throne.
Does this mean we should not be held accountable for any wrongdoing? No, we are still accountable and carry consequences from wrongdoing which could look like a speeding ticket from law enforcement, past mistakes that cost us a financial consequence or hardship because of a choice we made, like the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32; James 4:17; 1 John 1:8-10)
So, how do we live with the consequences of our life once we have received Christ? Maybe the emotions are still within us, and our life is reflecting guilt, shame, fear, anger, distrust, sadness, blaming others, just to name a few of the destructive ones that we harbor.
For me, I had to really want to know what was holding me back from experiencing the freedom from the condemnation I was charging myself with. I asked God to show me what was imprisoning me after He said I have freedom in Him. He showed me that my behavior was directly linked to what was reigning in my heart, my thoughts, and my attitude and I would act accordingly depending on the emotion. This was a new concept that I was allowing shame to reign, I was allowing fear to reign, I was allowing guilt to reign, and the list extended, and God was not on the list. (Proverbs 28:13; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 5:1-21)
One of the seemingly hardest questions to ask God is to "search our hearts" and the hardest one to follow through with once something is exposed. How can we see this dark place and get through it? How can I face the truth? It doesn’t seem that bad, right? How is that working for our benefit and God’s purpose by hanging onto the things we won’t face or accept?
I am working on a few things the Spirit has faithfully exposed in me, and I know that the Lord will bring me opportunities to share with others what shame looks like, what guilt looks like and so on, and I know that He wants to use the things that have held me in a dark place as light to help others and to reflect His grace which removes condemnation from me and allows me to enter into His Holy eternity and live life on this earth, a free, beloved child. I must allow Him and His ways to reign in me and not the condemnation I have been serving.
Heavenly Father, You are good, You are faithful, You are patient, You who started a good work in us is faithful to complete it. Open our eyes, soften our hearts, give us courage and strength to allow You to unlock the chains that hold us, teach us to step out of ourselves like Peter who stepped out of the boat and walked toward You on the water. Help us to stay focused on You and trust You to reign in us. May Your will be done.
This devotion by author, Terrie Miles, is exclusively and solely shared with permission to New Beginnings Church. Any unauthorized printed reproduction, sharing or use of this material is prohibited.
