Week 8: Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

1. We are free from the chains of sin and this world and no longer guilty of our iniquities.  Why?  Because Jesus, God’s only son, took on the weight of our sins and was sacrificed to atone for them.  Where we once were condemned to death, Jesus instead took our places.
1. How many of us live though as if we are free?  Too often we live in chains and in bondage, as if we are still condemned.  Condemned means "to be sentenced to a particular punishment, especially death."  We fail to see the liberty that Jesus has given us.  Without His sacrifice, God would be just in condemning us each to hell for our sins (Romans 3:23) for eternity.  Instead, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God willingly took on our sins and died so that we could have everlasting life.  This is staggering.  And those of us that live our lives as if we are condemned might as well be smacking Jesus in the face, saying yeah, your sacrifice was great, but really it's not enough for me.  We should all wake up and bow down to God, thanking Him for His love and mercy, for lifting our condemnation, for giving us life and reason and joy.
2. I read a very poignant passage in Job over the weekend.  Job's friend Elihu shows up and eloquently praises God.  In Job 36:8-12, he talks about people being bound in chains and ultimately dying by the sword and without knowledge.  Jesus has broken all chains that bind us, freeing us (Galatians 5:1,13), giving us liberty so that we can live a life that glorifies Him.  We're not to be bound to anything, and we have this freedom because of what Jesus did.  There is no condemnation for us.  Let's live like that and see how the world changes.
2. to those who are in Christ Jesus.  There is still condemnation for those without the blood of Jesus.  While He died for the sins of all, many do not accept His sacrifice, tragically, and condemn themselves to an eternity outside of God’s presence.

I really, really like the book of Romans a lot.  If you've not read it in a while, I encourage you to do so and be blown away by the love of God.  Also, if you're living life in bondage, floundering around in fear or indecisiveness, I encourage you to pick up Kevin DeYoung's Just Do Something (my review is here).  This short and potent book is a game-changer that I wish many American churchgoers would read.