NO CONDEMNATION
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Opening Prayer
Father, thank you for your grace that not only forgives, but cleanses me. Thank you for your undeserved great mercy that is mine each day.
Read ROMANS 8:1—8
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Romans
Romans 8
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Reflect
Praise God—In Christ, your sin is forgiven!
Are you a perfectionist, obsessed with getting and doing everything right? On your watch, things are done correctly! Except, our high standards—let alone God’s—bring us to self-condemnation. We quickly realize that what we’ve done is not perfect; we recognize our pride. With Paul we say, ‘Who will rescue me…?’1 Here, Paul states his glorious conclusion: ‘there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (v. 1). Neither we, nor anyone else, can condemn us. The ‘law of the Spirit’ has set us free from ‘the law of sin and death’ (v. 2). In Christ, we meet the righteous requirements of God’s law (v. 4).
Yet… here in our earthly living, we still struggle with the ‘law of sin and death’ (v. 2). When we allow our minds to be set on what the flesh desires, it leads to the darkness of death (v. 6). If our minds are occupied with anger, envy, resentments, material dreams or hurt pride, these things ‘set the agenda’ for our living.2 Such a mindset is hostile to God and brings distance between us and him (vv. 7, 8). Instead, Paul exhorts us to choose to set our minds on what the Spirit desires (v. 5). When we do that, we discover that our wants are in line with what God wants—and, then we discover his life and peace (v. 6).
The law of the Spirit achieves what the old law could not. As we recognize God’s work in our lives, we discover we have been liberated to live in his power in ways that please him. Sin and failure are dealt with—Christ has given his life for us (v. 3). Now, we are freed to live by the Spirit’s power; now ‘there is … no condemnation’ (v. 1)!
Apply
Setting your mind on what is pleasing to God, how can you pray for the world, your church, your friends and family, yourself?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I desire that nothing stand between us. Please convict me where I sin and help me to please you in all I say and do.
1 See Rom 7:24 2 Tokunboh Adeyemo, Africa Bible Commentary (Zondervan, 2006, revised 2010).
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