Free from Condemnation

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

Romans 8:1

Years ago, after preaching in a church service, the pastor said to me, "There's a woman visiting here who needs to talk with us. She's upset and crying. I don't know her problem, but she wants to talk with us." As we listened to her, the problem was obvious. She had left a small congregation looking for a new church. The pastor of that congregation told her that she would be under a curse, not blessed of God, if she joined another church. I opened my Bible to Ephesians, chapter one, to show her that all of God's blessings come to us through faith in Jesus Christ. You could see the release from fear in her countenance and hear it in her voice.

There is absolutely no condemnation for those who are living by faith in Jesus Christ. He died to take away all of our sins. He was raised from the dead to give us new life in the Spirit. When we receive Christ by faith, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives with assurance that we are free from condemnation.

Some Pharisees, a strict legalistic religious group, brought a woman to Jesus who was caught in the act of adultery (John 8). They condemned her. However, Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone." Jesus then spoke to the woman, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." Christ did not come to bring condemnation. He brought something far better. He offers mercy, forgiveness and the unconditional love of God.

Do you feel any condemnation? Sometime religious people enjoy putting condemnation on others, of course, never on themselves. Remember the words of Jesus to you, "Neither do I condemn you."

God, we receive freedom from condemnation through Jesus Christ.