Even after being a Christian since ’72, I still wrestle, at times, with condemnation. I haven’t entirely gotten over choices I made in the past or incidences that aren’t easy to forget. For some of us, unpleasant reminders of our pasts keep popping up. We may find we have very little to tell ourselves or say to overcome such attacks.
But, there is a way of escape, and here it is, Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
So, what does that mean? Paul explains it this way: Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
The law of sin and death means that whoever sins, dies. Death entered the world because of sin. If we sin, we die, we are under that law of sin and death.
But in Christ Jesus there is another law that sets us free from the law of sin and death. The law of the spirit which sets us free from the first law that condemns us.
So now, even though we should be condemned, we’re not, even though we sin. We’re not condemned, because the law of the spirit has overcome the law of sin and death.
In other words, being in Christ, our past sins are not against us anymore. Once repented of, no matter how devious, dark or hidden our pasts had been -- our sins, bad choices, behaviors – they can never be held against us EVER.
The list of events that cause believers to fall into condemnation and remain there for so long is endless. It could be about an abortion, the abandonment of a family, violence against someone, cheating, stealing, or maybe someone was a prostitute, dealer, or addict at one time in their lives.
Realize, there is a huge difference between condemnation and conviction. Condemnation keeps a person’s thoughts imprisoned through accusations, causing them to feel unworthy and without an escape from those demeaning thoughts and feelings.
We cannot be punished for the things that condemn us. Instead, they must be overcome by the sword of the Spirit, word of our testimony and blood of Jesus, the weapons of our warfare listed in Ephesians 6.
In contrast, conviction leads a believer into the realization that the sin committed needs to be confessed and forsaken. It carries with it a knowing of the Lord’s immediate forgiveness, love and hope once the sin is repented of, and it is very restorative.
But, there is a way of escape, and here it is, Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
So, what does that mean? Paul explains it this way: Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
The law of sin and death means that whoever sins, dies. Death entered the world because of sin. If we sin, we die, we are under that law of sin and death.
But in Christ Jesus there is another law that sets us free from the law of sin and death. The law of the spirit which sets us free from the first law that condemns us.
So now, even though we should be condemned, we’re not, even though we sin. We’re not condemned, because the law of the spirit has overcome the law of sin and death.
In other words, being in Christ, our past sins are not against us anymore. Once repented of, no matter how devious, dark or hidden our pasts had been -- our sins, bad choices, behaviors – they can never be held against us EVER.
The list of events that cause believers to fall into condemnation and remain there for so long is endless. It could be about an abortion, the abandonment of a family, violence against someone, cheating, stealing, or maybe someone was a prostitute, dealer, or addict at one time in their lives.
Realize, there is a huge difference between condemnation and conviction. Condemnation keeps a person’s thoughts imprisoned through accusations, causing them to feel unworthy and without an escape from those demeaning thoughts and feelings.
We cannot be punished for the things that condemn us. Instead, they must be overcome by the sword of the Spirit, word of our testimony and blood of Jesus, the weapons of our warfare listed in Ephesians 6.
In contrast, conviction leads a believer into the realization that the sin committed needs to be confessed and forsaken. It carries with it a knowing of the Lord’s immediate forgiveness, love and hope once the sin is repented of, and it is very restorative.