6/19/11

Day 4: I am Free from Condemnation

21 Days to Discover Who you are in Jesus
Day 4
I Am Free From Condemnation

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus.      Romans 8:1 amp

Jesus has given us the gift of no condemnation, yet many Christians still live under condemnation because they view themselves outside of Christ. They are still trying to be righteous through their human efforts instead of resting in the truth that Jesus has already made them righteous in Him.
Condemnation is feeling bad about yourself. It’s a feeling of guilt for not quite measuring up. Anytime you have a negative view of yourself or you think God has a negative view of you, you’re living in condemnation. Condemnation is a deception of the devil. He tries to make you feel guilty for everything. As a spouse, parent, friend, employee, or Christian, he’s always trying to speak this lie to your heart, “You don’t measure up.”
In John 8:1-11 niv, Jesus shows us His heart toward those who have sinned in the story of the Pharisees bringing an adulterous woman before Jesus to be judged.
“’Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’” (v. 4,5).
Jesus answered, “’If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her’” (v. 7).  
After everyone had dropped their stones and walked away, Jesus looked at the woman with love in His eyes and said to her, “‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’” (v. 10).
She answered, “’No one, sir’” (v. 11).
And Jesus said, “Then neither do I condemn you…. Go now and leave your life of sin’” (v. 11).
The law made it clear that this woman deserved punishment. She was judged guilty in the court of law, but Jesus in His great love set the woman free. He told her that He didn’t judge her guilty of wrong.
Have we fully comprehended the amazing love our Savior has toward us? We all know in the Old Covenant that there were many instances where people were condemned and punished for their sins. We often hold on to that view of ourselves and God, but the truth is that our heavenly Father had a plan to release us from all guilt and condemnation by sending His Son, Jesus, to set us free.
Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared righteous—something the Law of Moses could never do.
                                      Acts 13:38,39
One time right before I was getting ready to teach a Bible study, I got very upset because of a disagreement I had with my husband. I remember as soon I as walked out of the room, the devil came immediately to condemn me. He held the law over my head and began accusing me with it. “You don’t deserve to teach Bible study. Look at you, you just sinned.” I wanted to crawl in a hole and cry as condemnation began to envelop me. But instead I turned my thoughts toward Jesus and asked Him to help me. My Savior reminded me of a very powerful truth in the Bible.
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. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ. So don’t let anyone condemn you.
                              Colossians 2:13-16 nlt
Jesus reminded me that He cancelled the charges against me by nailing them to the cross. The devil couldn’t use the law to accuse me anymore. His weapon had been disarmed. The devil was the one who was shamed when Jesus won the victory for me. I didn’t have to feel condemned anymore. I could receive His forgiveness and walk free. I remember how empowered I felt that day after the Holy Spirit had reminded me that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. I went to that Bible study and shared my recent revelation with every lady who was there, and they were also set free by the truth.
Jesus has forgiven all our sins. When He died on the cross, He paid the price for all of them to be cleared from our record. In Hebrews 8:12 nlt our heavenly Father says,
“I will forgive their wickedness,
and I will never again remember their sins.”
When the Father looks at us, He declares us innocent, perfect, and faultless because of Jesus.
The next time the devil tries to accuse and condemn you with the law, remember that Jesus looks at you with love in His eyes and says, “I do not condemn you, go and sin no more.”
So agree with the One who loves you. Speak the truth out loud:
·       The charges that the devil uses to accuse me have been nailed to the cross.
·       I am forgiven. I am free from all guilt and declared righteous.
·       I am free from condemnation because of Jesus.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that I am free from condemnation because I am in Christ. I don’t have to feel guilty or condemned. You have forgiven me for all my wrongs, and You don’t even remember one sin I’ve ever done.
I am truly free from all guilt because of Jesus.

3 comments:

  1. Michelle Harris19/6/11 12:26 PM

    I say yes and amen to what Jesus did for me on the cross! Because of His extravagant love for all men he cancelled out their sins, becoming sin for us and reconciling us to our Daddy forever. We are now of Him, in Him, with Him, as Him in this world and condemnation has no place in the life of the righteous. His righteousness is who we really are, the very DNA of the Father, the incorruptible seed in us. Not only are we free from sin, sin-consciousness, and the guilt and condemnation that comes from sin-consciousness, (as if that weren't enough!)but now we are free to be who He has made us to be...just like Him as we are conscious that we are His righteousness! This is the almost-too-good-to-be-true news that we can tell a hurting world and be certain we are bringing them real answers for real problems. This is the power of Christ in us!

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  2. Yes, and Amen! Thank you, Jesus, for setting me free from all condemnation! This is true freedom! The charges against me have been nailed to the cross. I am who my Father says I am because of Jesus! WOOHOO!

    Connie Witter

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  3. I love what Connie said at the beginning of the article, "Jesus has given us the gift of no condemnation, yet many Christians still live under condemnation because they view themselves outside of Christ. " Those negative emotions are an important reminder that we're living independent of Jesus' finished work.

    I can only imagine, when we succumb to the lies of the enemy, how Jesus is yearning for us to turn to Him as if He is saying, "Live in Me...forsake your independence for My abundant life." What FREEDOM!

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