Now or Never: Daily Promise 29
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“So NOW there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1 (NLT)
Today’s promise from God’s Word is one of the most liberating promises in Scripture! For all those who have failed and struggled with guilt and shame over those failures, God says, “So NOW there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” When you receive Christ’s forgiveness by faith and accept Him as your Savior from sin, the condemnation you were once under has been lifted! There is no condemnation NOW, not just in eternity! We can live, free of our past offenses, with a clear conscience before God! How is that possible? Were you and I not the ones who committed those sins and stand guilty before a holy God? How can they be erased? How do we escape the just condemnation we so deserve? Look at the promise again. We no longer stand condemned for our sins because we belong to Christ Jesus! He took our condemnation on the cross for all our sins, past, present, and future! In 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) Paul explains the transaction that took place. He writes, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Think of it, God exchanged our sin for His righteousness and made us right with God despite how wrong we have been, so that now we are no longer under condemnation for those sins because we belong to Christ!
Warren Wiersbe points out that “the verse does not say ‘no mistakes’ or ‘no failures,’ or even ‘no sins.’ Christians do fail and make mistakes, and they do sin. Abraham lied about his wife; David committed adultery; Peter tried to kill a man with his sword. To be sure, they suffered consequences because of their sins, but they did not suffer condemnation.”
So how do we respond to sin? Do we just deny it when we sin? The Bible says, “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” 1 John 2:1 (NLT)
Jesus Christ is the believers’ advocate before God! He’s the only defense attorney that’s never lost a case! In this cosmic courtroom, God the Father is the Judge. Satan is the accuser, and everyone who has ever lived is on trial. Who in the world could ever be found innocent when we’ve all sinned and come short of the glory of God? How can any of us escape the judgment of a holy and righteous God? Then, Jesus Christ enters the courtroom. Unlike any other advocate who stands with the condemned, Jesus Christ is the Judge’s own Son! He acknowledges the accusations Satan makes against us and offers Himself in our place to take the punishment we deserved! He suffered our penalty in our place as our defender! Because of His sacrifice, we cannot be tried for a case that no longer exists! It is no longer on the court docket! Our record has been expunged! His grace not only offers a pardon, but it also offers a clean slate as if the crime had never been committed! When we receive Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, the just penalty for our sin has been satisfied, and we are justified before God! That means that, through Jesus, we are made right with God! How awesome is that! We never have to be afraid to ask Christ to plead our case! He has already won it! On the cross, He cried victoriously, “It is finished!” John 19:30 (NLT)
In the language of the New Testament, that phrase was one word, “Tetelestai.” It means “paid in full!” No wonder the Gospel is called Good News! Imagine standing before God and having every wrong thought, every wrong deed you’ve ever done replayed on an IMAX screen, revealing undeniable evidence of your guilt. At the very moment you think your verdict is to be given, your advocate, Jesus Christ, steps up, and the case is dismissed! You are free! Forgiven! No longer condemned! How grateful would you be? John tells us, in the next verse, why Jesus has never lost a case. “He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” 1 John 2:2 (NLT)
God’s forgiveness is universal! He offers forgiveness to all who ask and turn from their sin to Christ! Is Jesus your advocate before God, or will you be standing alone, acting in your own defense? It’s been said, “A man who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client.” Turn to Christ today. Experience the liberating promise that now you are no longer under condemnation. You don’t belong to sin anymore. You belong to Christ Jesus. When you are in Christ, you are set free!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.