“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
It’s hard for us to believe God loves us.
Especially when we take a good look in the mirror.
It’s easy to feel condemned when we think of our failures, our mistakes, our foolish comments, our stubborn pride, and the grudges we hold. Most of us have moments when we look at ourselves and say, “There is plenty of condemnation for you, buster!”
But that is not what God says.
God says, “No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Are we willing to believe what God has said? We sometimes sing a beloved invitation hymn that goes like this:
Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe,
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow
Do we believe what we sing?
Do we believe Jesus paid it all?
If so, there can be no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon says it quite simply:
“If our debt was paid, it was paid, and there is an end of it; a second payment cannot be demanded.”
Is Jesus enough for you? I don’t know of any truth more important, more satisfying, or more liberating than the great truth that for those who know Jesus Christ, there is no condemnation.
Why? Because Jesus paid it all.
Why? Because your sins are gone.
Why? Because Jesus condemned sin by his death on the cross.
If Jesus paid the price for your sins, God will never condemn you.
The devil whispers in our ear, “Condemned! Condemned!”
God says, “No condemnation!”
Who are you going to believe? The devil or God?
I recommend that you write out Romans 8:1, stick it where you can see it, and repeat it every day. It’s the foundation of all spiritual progress. It’s easy to believe it for someone else and harder to believe it for ourselves, so we need the constant reminder that in Christ we are eternally and always “not condemned” by God.
I can’t think of a more encouraging spiritual truth. For those who are in Christ Jesus, now, today, not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, but right now, in this present moment, there is no condemnation.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for present-tense salvation. When the devil reminds me of my failures, help me to say, “I am not condemned because Christ died for me!” Amen.
Musical bonus: This carol started in France, made its way to England, and eventually spread around the world. Let’s listen together as Pentatonix sings The First Noel.
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