Romans 8:1-2: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” [NLT]
That is the most amazing promise – that there is no condemnation. It’s a done deal.
Colossians 2:13-14 confirms it is a done deal: “You were dead because of your sins …. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. [NLT all past tense verses!]
In Romans times, the charges against convicted prisoners were recorded and posted on a sign outside their prison cells. Everyone knew why they had been judged and condemned.
That’s why the Jewish leaders wanted Pilate to post a different sign of judgment and condemnation on the cross of Christ than what he had posted. Pilate posted, “The King of the Jews,” and the Jewish leaders wanted, “He claimed to be the King of the Jews.”
I had a sign too: Mine said, “Terry Lema, Enemy of God, Rebellious Sinner.”
When I surrendered my life to Christ Jesus, those charges recorded against me were taken away and nailed to Jesus’ Cross … and now there is no condemnation anymore for me. There is no condemnation anymore for anyone who has surrendered their life to Christ Jesus!
We need to silence the three enemies we have in this life (the world, our flesh, the devil) who are always trying to make us take back that judgment and condemnation death record. They want us to think that it is no longer nailed to the Cross of Christ. They want us to feel condemned so that we won’t experience God’s love to the fullest measure the Father desires for us.
Oh Father, thank you that we can boldly say … There is now no condemnation!
