Transformation Is a Battle

The gospel is the good news that Jesus died to forgive us our sin debt and that HE WAS RAISED SO THAT HE CAN LIVE IN US. Romans chapters 1-5:11 deal with the redeeming death of Jesus, but chapters 5:12-8:39 describe the powerful changes the risen Christ makes in the lives of those who come under his authority. One by one, Paul pulls out from the treasure chest of Romans 8 the beautiful gifts God puts into the lives of those willing to call Jesus “Lord”.

The first of these blessings is that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1). ” Condemnation” means two things: first, it means that God inspects a person’s behavior and thoughts. He doesn’t overlook or neglect anyone. He sees us in our entirety. Second, he disapproves of what He sees. “Condemnation” means we are pronounced guilty and then punished. But because Jesus’ death removes sin, those who are in Him are not condemned. All sin must be punished, because God is perfectly holy. But the condemnation a Christian deserves has already been accepted and absorbed by Jesus. Paul exults over this: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?” ( 8:31-34)

The fact that there is no condemnation for us in Christ doesn’t mean that we always feel free and easy. Feelings don’t always follow the facts. But no matter how we feel, the fact is that Jesus has lifted our guilt from us. God looks at His forgiven children with approval and love. As with all the wonderful gifts we will examine in Romans 8, the awareness and the ownership of this freedom from guilt will grow as we continue to walk in the Spirit, but the seed has been planted, and the tree will blossom and bear fruit. Because we are in Jesus, we can stand to look in the mirror. We can stand to face satan, “the accuser of the brethren”. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!