Romans 8:1-2

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Condemnation means strong disapproval, criticism or reprove. It can also mean the act of condemning someone to punishment. Jesus died for us and took the punishment that we deserved so He has already paid for our sins. When we believe this, we can no longer keep working hard in our own strength to not feel condemned or feel the wrath of God on us. Jesus set us free from the slavery of sin and death so we can live freely in the truth without guilt. Even though, Jesus has paid the price for our sins, we still have to actively walk by the spirit – which is the Holy Spirit in order to fully believe and experience the true freedom that He gives.

Once we believe what Jesus has done and pair that with being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we experience less guilt over our sins as we can pray to God for forgiveness and know that Jesus will intercede for us. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit can look like being sensitive to His voice. Not just doing this when we feel temptation but also when we have sinned against God and feel ourselves or the enemy tell us that we aren’t worthy, will never be forgiven or can never change.

Walking after the flesh can make us think that in order to not feel condemned over our sins/wrongdoings, we have to actively try harder but walking by the spirit in Christ Jesus means that we are aware that we will still sin and fall short; however we are being redeemed. Jesus has already paid it all for us. We can still come to God, repent and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us back on the right track again. There is therefore now no condemnation because God is merciful and kind. He sent Jesus to destroy the works of the devil and set us free.

Prayer:

Father God, I thank You that there is now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ. I am thankful that because of Jesus, I don’t have to feel like I am too far gone or too far from your love and forgiveness when I sin and have wrongdoings.

I am grateful that Jesus has provided a way out so that I can be free from Your wrath which I so rightfully deserved. Now I don’t have to keep working hard in my own strength to please You, getting it wrong and beating myself up when I fail time and time again. What Jesus has done for me, means that You offer me grace and still love me without punishing me for my sins.

Remind me that I have been set free from the law of sin and death through Jesus’s death and resurrection. He has conquered death and set me free from the sins that I was enslaved to. I don’t have to dwell on the bad things that I have done. I only need to repent, surrender my life to You and be reminded that Jesus has already paid it all and that You love me and that Your love and Spirit is enough for me to want to live a changed life.

In Jesus’ name, I pray amen.