Are You Living in Freedom?
July 16, 2023
Are You Living in Freedom?
By Ashton Holt
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4
In Jesus Christ, God does not condemn you; he wipes your slate perfectly clean. Sin and death stand condemned in your place by the blood of Jesus. How does this happen? God sent forth his Son in the flesh to assume and fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. Jesus took on the curse of sin and death to free us fully from the burden of condemnation. He condemns sin in one moment– the cross, so that the consequences of sin are not a problem for us. Because of Christ, God knows us, loves us and gives us the fullest freedom, inheritance, and life that can be offered.
This feels too good to be true. We often struggle to believe God is not waiting for us to make a mistake, or that he does not look at us apart from our sin. Yet God knows our minds and hearts so intimately that he understands our own lack of faith in his saving promises. The Apostle John writes, “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:19-20)
We are given a great gift of assurance here– God is greater than our unbelief, and God’s word of freedom from condemnation is fundamentally true in Jesus. Christ has become a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the law, therefore, we are free to live as beloved children with whom God is well pleased. The beautiful crescendo at the end of Romans 8 offers the ultimate assurance: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:31-32) God has freely given us the grace to live by his Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, the gift of God for the people of God, demonstrates nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Lord, help our unbelief and help us to live free from the burden of condemnation by your Holy Spirit.
Reflection:
What does it mean that God does not condemn you? Will you embrace the free gift of grace that God offers in Jesus Christ? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resource:
Our honest prayer before God is evidence that we understand the ways He loves, cherishes, sees, and hears us. Through prayer, we can acknowledge with Hagar, “You are the living One who sees me” (Genesis 16:14). When we pray, we are affirming the same. Why do we often hide from this privilege? Why do we avoid God, the One who sees us as we are and stands ready to provide and answer us in his holy, timely way? In this 8-week study on the prayers of Job, Ruth, Hannah, and David, grow your prayer life by facing your honest need and bringing your whole self before God. Acknowledging God as the One who guides your path can change your heart. It can take you past fear and into faith, strength, and hope. Learn more about Honest Prayer.
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