I am convinced that thousands upon thousands of God's saints would be set free instantly if they truly believed Romans 8:1: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Paul goes on to write, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death" (Romans 8:2).
The law of sin and of death stated simply is: If you sin, you die.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus stated simply is: If you, by the Spirit of God, are in Christ Jesus, you are free! You are alive!
This is a statement of truth...a fact of life in Jesus the Messiah: If you are in Christ, you are alive and you are free forever from condemnation for your sin. Period.
Recently I have taken two young men through The Steps to Freedom in Christ. Both of them struggled to wrap their faith around this liberating concept. Why? One believed he had sinned too greatly and too frequently to be forgiven. The other saw "signs" in nature that he was condemned.
Since both of them were clearly in Christ, they could not be more alive, free and delivered from condemnation than they are right now. But they battled with surfacing through the muck of their past to break through and gulp in the fresh air of joy. Their guilt and shame were like quicksand dragging them down. Maybe that's where you find yourself today...wishing you could break free into the truth.
Let me remind you:
God's word is true about you...regardless of how you may feel about what God says.
God's word is true about you...even if there are mysterious "signs" that point the opposite way.
God's word is true about you...no matter how many times you have sinned.
God's word is true about you...in spite of how bad your sins were.
Will you take God at His word? He cannot lie. Feelings can lie. Signs can be false. Guilt and shame can overwhelm us if we let it. But God is throwing you a life preserver. No, He is diving into the quicksand to pull you out. Will you let Him? You say your faith is small. That's okay. His arms are big.
You can do it. You can claim today that in Christ "I am free from condemnation."
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