“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom 8:1 (NIV)
The Bible presents the bad news of condemnation for sin. We are born in sin and bear the marks of the sin nature that can be traced throughout our family tree all the way back to our beloved relative, Adam. Every human being is a descendant of Adam and has inherited Adam’s fallen nature. Because of sin the unregenerate have no future to look forward to except separation from God and eternal damnation in hell.
Thankfully, just as the Bible presents the bad news of condemnation for sin, it also presents the good news of salvation from sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23 NIV). As a result of the gift of God provided to every child of God, the bad news of our sin is replaced with the good news of eternal life found in Jesus Christ.
When you come into union with Jesus Christ, you are blessed with the realities of that personal and eternal relationship. Your union with Christ generates some realities that profoundly impact your present and future.
Reality #1: In Christ, I am not condemned.
In Christ, you no longer operate your life under the cloud of shame and guilt. The penalty for your sin has been paid in full. “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” (Romans 5:18 NIV). You are no longer condemned. Jesus took your place by completing the atoning work on the cross for your sin. Don’t allow the enemy to drag you back under the cloud of condemnation. Since you are not condemned, you can remove the grave clothes. You have been brought from death to life!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell