We cannot be condemned

Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

It is a privilege and comfort for all those that are in Christ Jesus that there is no condemnation. The apostle does not say, "There is no accusation against them,’’ for there is; but the accusation is thrown out and the indictment tossed aside. He does not say, "There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation,’’ for there is and they see it, own it, and mourn over it and may even condemn themselves for it; but they are still free from the power of sin. He does not say, "There is no adversity, no affliction to them or no pain in their transgressions,’’ for there may be; but no condemnation. The Lord may correct them, but they are not condemned with the world. Now this arises from their being in Christ Jesus, by their faith in Christ and their union with Christ as He dwells within.

Quoting from J. Granger, Sons: A Father's Love (Word, 1999), quoted in Men of Integrity, Vol. 3, no. 2, “My son called today. Through years of drug abuse, Scott had stolen from our family, manipulated us, and failed us. It had been a relief not to hear from him for two years.

Scott told me he'd been through a rehabilitation program a year-and-a-half ago that provided something no other had offered. "I met Jesus Christ. I've been forgiven for my past. I want to ask you and Mom to forgive me, too." He said he was now helping other addicts get straightened out.

I was torn between hope and cynicism. The well-groomed, bright-eyed young man who arrived at the airport looked like a stranger. In the days that followed, Scott told how, in the midst of drug withdrawal, he'd seen a vision of Jesus Christ on the cross and cried out to him for help. His withdrawal symptoms ended instantly. That experience had led him to a church. "I asked Jesus to be my Lord," he quietly explained, "and my life hasn't been the same since."

The change in Scott was too dramatic for my wife and me to ignore. Today, Jesus has given us the same new life he gave our prodigal son.”

The Bible tells us there is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus Christ. Scott was no long controlled by the sins of his past, but was instead set free. With Christ, Scott was able to change his life, so much so, his parents saw a different person - They were seeing Christ living inside of Scott.

Satan often comes as our accuser to bring up the sins of our past, but for those who have placed their faith in Christ those sins have been forgiven and paid for. We may be accused, but we cannot be condemned.