No Condemnation

I was speaking to a friend recently, and in casual conversation asked him, “By the way, are you a Christian?” He paused for a moment, then painfully replied, “I try to be.”

Perhaps this is true for many people. They see Jesus as the supreme example of how Christians should live their lives, but invariably fall short of the high standard presented. Even mature Christians fall from time to time, but they are secure in their faith that ‘If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (I John 1:9).

As Christians, we can take comfort that God forgives, but often beat ourselves up over our failure to maintain the high standard He seems to demand. Jesus said, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:8).

We know that we are no longer bound by the Law of Moses when we are born again by the Spirit of God, assured of our salvation, and understanding the full implications of the cross. But it appears that God wants us to go further: "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). God demands perfection - or so it seems.

We can be assured that our sins have been carried to death by Jesus and our salvation is sure, but deep inside we still think we’re not good enough. We can be living in that personal battle my friend shared with me, knowing we are Christian but struggling to maintain the standards required.

Let’s look at the words of the Apostle Paul: ‘For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:3). Do we believe it? Do we understand it?

If so, why do some of us continue to do battle with ourselves as if we are already defeated?  “So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). Live in the new life that Jesus makes possible. “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Step out of the old and into the new.

Paul tells us, ’There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.. The law of the Spirit of Life has set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2). If we’re born again by the Spirit of God we can step out of the grave clothes and walk in our robe of righteousness. It’s not what we do that matters. It’s what we are.

Our conscience is clear. Our life is in God and our destiny is God. The penalty for sin has been paid and we live according to this truth: No more guilt, no more shame, but thanksgiving and gratitude to Jesus, for our new life.