No Condemnation

by Debbi Weeks

A dear friend spoke God’s Word from Romans 8:1 to me last week: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Those words fell anew on my heart. What freedom, what peace! I was reminded that my loving Father convicts, but does not condemn. Satan takes God’s good and turns it around to paralyze and imprison us – it is Satan that condemns.

Another friend asked the question that we should always ask when we see a therefore in a sentence: “What’s the therefore, there for?” To get enough context we must read what came before the therefore. Here’s what Romans 7:14-25 says: “So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” (NLT) After these verses comes Chapter Eight’s therefore. Wow! It’s awesome to know what the therefore is there for!

I know this sin struggle described in these verses all too well. What a blessing to know that God through Jesus Christ has already taken care of it all for me and for you. I do not need to wallow in the guilt of my sin, that’s what Satan wants for me - to feel condemned and unworthy. Christ on the other hand offers me repentance and restoration! Yes, there is now no condemnation for me (because I am in Christ Jesus)!

Father God I praise You that You convict, but don’t condemn.

Please forgive me for the times when I lose at this sin struggle.

Thank You for giving me the peace and freedom of not being condemned. And, thank You that You provide the answer in Jesus Christ.

Please allow my heart to live convicted, but not condemned.

In Christ’s Name, Amen.