Romans 8:1 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
This Fall I am teaching a lecture on the book of Romans at Christian Life College in Madison. I can't tell you how joyful that makes me be. I love Paul's letter to the Romans for so many reasons. The Gospel is this beautiful, liberating "good news" and Paul sings it loud and clear.
Paul's declaration was a source of early conviction in my Christian Life. I came to Christ at age 20, at the end of my college studies. I fell headlong into the discovery of Jesus. It was a love that lifted the burden of my own sin off my shoulders and delivered me from thinking I had to do something to earn my salvation. Those who believe they have to "DO" something - be religious, good works, prove it, just a little bit more, that's not enough - will struggle with the Gospel's message. We can't do anything to earn or deserve salvation because Jesus did it all for us!
I wish I could say that my discovery led to an instant growth and my life was instantly changed. In some ways it was. I had a new love for God's word, and I read it and read it and read it. I loved listening to teaching, and being in worship with others. I grew a lot in those early years - my life was slowly being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit working God's word within me. Paul said it like this:
Romans 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The process of transformation is what theologians call "Sanctification" - the way in which we turn our lives over to God and allow him to work his values into our heart and mind - therefore changing our will from Self to obedience to Christ.
I wished I could say it was all instant and smooth...but it wasn't. Early on, my heart was desiring God, but my Flesh was struggling with past behaviors. I often felt defeated. I soon discovered the road to sanctification was never going to be easy or even b completed in my earthly days.
As time went along I kept coming back to this faithful promise:
Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...
God was gracious, faithful, loving...even when I was not. I don't know about you but THAT IS GREAT NEWS. Our Justification (the act of Christ's atoning work saving us from our sin) continues to be applied day in and day out of our lives. Truly, "Jesus Paid It All"
Here's the key point I wanted to share today...This sense of feeling defeated was not bad. Let God's Spirit apply his convicting work to our minds and hearts...let your heart be broken by your sin and disobedience....Cultivate a HOLY DISSATISFACTION with anything that does not truly lead you to "love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself". That convicting work of His Spirit...that holy dissatisfaction...is God at work in us.
BUT, at the same time, live in the grace, the faith, the hope and love that is the promise of the Freedom of Christ. Because we are IN CHRIST, we are not condemned...never will be...forever and forever free from performance, from works, from self-styled religious stuff. We are slowly but surely being transformed by the Spirit of Christ within us and it is simply and purely this: We are Children of God...our Identity belongs to Him, and we are redeemed by the precious blood of our Savior.
It's this: Our Freedom is in Christ, and it's Free - a work of God's Grace - BUT it cost Him the life of His Son! That's why we worship, learn, grow, obey...not to earn it, but to live In This Freedom.
Paul reminds us how it all is going to work out:
Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Here's the quiz question for today: "How many of the people who are "called according to his purpose; who he foreknows; who he predestines to be conformed to His Son; whom he calls; whom he justifies"....How many of them end up Glorified?"
God is faithful, I am Free...Amen?
Peace
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