"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." -Romans 8:1-4
This passage in Romans is beautiful to me. As of lately, I have realized that sometimes I forget that I am no longer condemned by God. Sometimes I act like I am condemned, even though I have been redeemed and saved by Jesus.
Let me put this in perspective: I am a believer who wants to live my life serving the one true God. He is the only thing that I want to live for because He has made me fall in love with Him. My major in college is Biblical and Theological Studies. I love studying God's word, and praying, spending time in God's presence, worshiping through music. However, I still fail sometimes to realize that I am saved, redeemed, loved, and that when God looks at me, he doesn't see my sin, but has wiped it away and looks at me with gentleness, kindness, passion, and love. I may know these things in my head, but the fact is sometimes, I fail to really realize it in my heart. And there is such a difference. When I fail to do something that God has called me to do, or I stumble in sin, make bad choices, am consumed with myself and fail to see others needs in front of me, or even believing in lies from satan that I am worthless, not loved by others, don't amount to anything, or that everything I do is a failure, it is so easy to feel condemned and have shame. I am saved and yet I walk around like a failure sometimes. I am made righteous by Christ's blood, yet I stand like I am condemned-like I am the biggest failure on the face of the earth. But, if I look at God's word and what He has done for me, the Spirit testifies with my Spirit that I am a child of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). And that there is nothing in all creation that can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:37-39). I don't have to walk around feeling accused and like God is not with me or for me because God is so for me and with me. His promises remain true for eternity. God loves me and loves everyone. I am saved by grace as a free gift from God. When God looks at me now, he doesn't see my sin because Jesus wiped them away with His blood on the cross. Jesus has stood in the gap and now I stand alive and new in Him. I must remind myself of this gift everyday. We are victorious in Christ. I don't have to get it all right, though my heart is to be obedient. But, I want to be obedient because I AM loved by God and I love Him, NOT because I am worrying that God doesn't love me and NOT by trying to earn His love out of being obedient. There is freedom in Christ, to live in love with Him.
Yet, this never gives me or anyone else an excuse to sin because of the free gift of grace. For God is continually at work in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, to get rid of things that bring destruction to our lives, through sanctification. We never have an excuse to keep on sinning or to use our freedom to indulge in the flesh (Galatians 5:13 and 1Peter 2:16). But as I continue to pursue God and seek Him, He will show me the things to get rid of and things He is calling me to do, and His grace will not only wipe my sin away but give me the strength to overcome them. This is a love relationship with our God and we get to stand as redeemed people, confident in God's love for us and with a spirit of radical obedience to the one who loves us.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." -Romans 8:1-4
