Romans 8.1-2
1 There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life
has set you free in Christ Jesus
from the law of sin and death
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The Gospel puts my past in its place, which means that it is securely affixed to the cross of Christ. It is quite true that I have had and done an innumerable number of sinful thoughts and deeds, but what preaching the Gospel to myself every day reminds me of is that all of those deeds have died when I died, and I am reminded that I died when I was crucified with Christ (Galatians 2.20). Through the cross, Jesus has become my sin, and I have become His righteousness (1 Corinthians 5.21). There is no condemnation for me any longer simply because there is nothing I can be condemned for, because I am hidden in Christ, and there is nothing He can be condemned for.
I might say, “but if He took my sin, and I am now hidden in Him, aren’t I still stuck with that sin since it is now upon Him?” This would be the case if He was unable to reconcile the debt that is owed due to that sin, but this is not the case. When Jesus took upon my sin, He paid the debt for all my sin, and it has been paid in full; this is something I could never do. When He rose, He rose without my sin; my sin stayed in the grave, and it will never be let out to accuse or harm me again. Therefore, any accusation that my heart imposes upon me, while true at one time, is no longer effective in condemning me.
Shame and condemnation
keep us handcuffed to the past,
making us unable to walk
in the freedom that Jesus
lovingly and willfully
paid for with His blood.
When I don’t believe this, shame and condemnation rules my heart. My assurance and confidence in Christ’s love for me will always be shaky at best, because I still feel that I need to make up for my past; I doubt whether He really loves me that much, or if He still carries disappointment toward me. What’s worse is that when I live in condemnation, it’s effectively saying I don’t believe that the price Jesus paid was enough. But I want to be convinced of His great love!
In any relationship, if we aren’t convinced of our spouse’s or friend’s love for us, or we feel they were holding resentment from the past, we’ll always be timid and insecure in that relationship. We’d be constantly working for approval, wondering if they’ll eventually give up on us.
True love can’t grow
when I am unsure of
another’s feelings toward me.
May this not be the case
with my Savior.
Read Again Out Loud and Make it into a Prayer:
Romans 8.1-2
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Before the Throne
Charitie Lees Smith (Bancroft), Irish Hymnwriter, 1863
Personalize and Read or Pray Aloud:
Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great High Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied,
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness.
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
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Pray Aloud:
Father, help __________
to glorify You in every way.
Reveal Your beauty in _________
as it is in Heaven.
Give _________ daily bread,
and thank You for Your undeserved mercy.
Help us to forgive others.
Keep __________heart soft
for You, for Your Word, for prayer,
and for those that You put in their life,
that they may keep their heart from evil and sin.
Thank You for Your grace and mercy.
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