Not Guilty!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
In this country, if you commit a serious crime, a felony, you may be sentenced to many years in prison or even given the death penalty. When you have your day in court and are found guilty the judge will pronounce you guilty and hand down your sentence. You no longer are a free man or women to go and do as you please. The state will now control every minute of your life and if you are sentenced to death they will carry out your execution. Every person who has ever been found guilty whishes they had heard the words “not guilty” instead.
Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters in all of the Bible. Steve Lawson said, “That if the Bible is a ring, then the book of Romans is the diamond, and chapter 8 is the apex of the cut on that diamond.” In chapter 8 we are reminded that Christians are heirs with Christ, that nothing can separate us from the Love of God, and that we have a future glory reserved for us through Christ Jesus. But, it all stars with reminding us that there is no condemnation for believers.
“Condemnation” (katakrima) is also a strong Greek word that means ‘death sentence, damnation, eternal death.’ As a believer, there is no damnation sentence hanging over your head. In other words if you are a follower of Christ you have been declared not guilty by the creator of the universe Himself. God has justified you through your faith in the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Christian you have been set free from the law of sin and death, so act like it.
You were a slave to sin, now you’re a slaves to righteousness, so live like it. What say you Christian are you living your life as a man or women that is under no condemnation or is your life full of worry fear and anxiety?
Let us say as Paul, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord.” So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:8.
Your shepherd,
Pastor Mark
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