NO CONDEMNATION

A short explanation about last week's post. The idea for my first post last week was triggered by an incident in our church but some felt this post would be viewed as an attack on an individual so I replaced that post with a devotional on justification by faith. Sorry for any confusion.

Liberia: I have completed my notes to teach Biblical Theology and will now begin to develop 4 quizzes and some other handout material. Next week I will apply for my visa which requires sending my passport and other documents to Washington DC. Please pray that the Liberian embassy will be quick in giving me a visa and returning my paperwork. Soon we will be booking our flights. I much appreciate your prayers at this time. Departure is 6 weeks from now.

 Just a few thoughts on Romans 8.34, "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." In Romans 8, Paul is giving signs for the believer to examine him/herself to know for sure that he/she is in Christ Jesus and then follows this examination with proofs of assurance that this salvation cannot be lost. This verse is part of the proofs for assurance of our salvation.

 Paul begins chapter 8 by writing, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". With no condemnation for sin there can be no punishment or judgement for sin. In verse 34 Paul gives three reasons why there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. God is the only one who has a right to condemn the sinner and if God does not condemn then there is no condemnation. The first reason that God does not condemn is because Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for sin. Christ's death was God's plan to pay for the condemnation of sin so if Christ died for sin neither God nor Christ nor the Holy Spirit condemns the believer who died with Christ on the cross. The second reason that God does not condemn is because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. In the resurrection, God validated the death of Christ for sin and in our resurrection with Christ gave us new life, eternal life and imputed to us the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5.21). Finally Christ stands on our behalf at the right hand of God and intercedes for us so certainly we are not condemned and will never be condemned and will inherit eternal life as promised.
Now a closing word to those who continue to condemn themselves for past sins and failures which can never be made right and lifestyles which have caused irreparable damage. In the death and resurrection of Christ there is no condemnation from God and there should be no self-condemnation. God has made you a new creation in Christ to move ahead in life without dragging the past into the present. Grieve the past, learn from the past, repair the past where possible, but in the believer there is no more place for self-condemnation because of the forgiven past. Move forward in life as a new creation in Christ.