Condemned
Opening Prayer
Merciful and Gracious Lord, I’m so grateful for Your mercies to me each day. I worship and praise You now.
Read ROMANS 8:1-17
[1] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [2] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. [3] 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, [4] 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. [5] Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. [6] The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; [7] the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. [8] Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. [9] You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. [10] But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. [11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. [12] Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. [13] For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, [14] because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How does Paul contrast the two different "minds"?Rules, says Paul (3), show us our faults, but possess no power to help us do what we want to do, but can’t manage. So we believe we are condemned to fail; but this chapter of Romans declares the opposite. In Jesus, there is no condemnation (1). We are not condemned, because God entered our world and offered himself as a sacrifice for all that is wrong and broken. Because Jesus was condemned, we escape condemnation.
This changes everything. We no longer try to live by the rule book. Instead we try to live a Holy Spirit-directed and energized life (2). Rather than a grim duty—desperately trying and failing—we enjoy the freedom and joy of walking in the Spirit (4). He is the presence of Jesus within us all the time. He gives us a place in God’s family; our status is that of God’s children (16,17). He prompts the desire we have to live for God and to serve him. He teaches us what God’s voice sounds like and encourages us to walk in his way. There are many voices telling us how to live. Living as Christians means deciding which voice to listen to (13).
Apply
“In my place condemned he stood…Alleluia! What a Savior!” (Philip Bliss). Thank God for your place in God’s family.
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, keep my spirit tuned to listening to Your voice directing me in the way of Christ.
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