Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 15, 2005
Question 4
Rom 8:1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. [John 3:18.]
What does this passage say about the guilt of people who have fallen below God's standards?
What is the condition for escaping the condemnation we deserve from God?
Who are those "who are in Christ Jesus"?
Do you feel condemned for the mistakes you have made?
Why or why not?
How can you be freed from the feeling of guilt?
Praise God for this one verse . . . not that all the other verse are less important ... but this one verse is such a great reminder for me. There is no condemnation ... I don't have to hang my head in shame. He has come to save me, to help me, to give me life and purpose. I don't normally feel condemned for the mistakes I have made. I grabbed onto this verse and made it my own. When the condemnation and guilt plagues me, I recognize that pretty quickly as the enemy. I am glad. It would be so easy for me to just wallow in a miry pit of self condemnation. I told someone else recently that I am all about self destruction. That has a direction that has called me all of my life. I never think about seeking revenge on someone else for hurting me ... I think about what I can do to myself. So, if I allowed myself to go that place of guilt and condemnation, it would be devastating. God keeps a pretty tight hold on this for me. He hedges me in and guards my thoughts. I realize that th! is could be my thorn in the flesh. This could be the thing that I would struggle with, that would keep my humble. I am glad it is not because it frightens me to think that I might not win the battle and then where would I be.
CONDEMN, v.t. [L., to condemn, to disapprove, to doom, to devote.]
1. To pronounce to be utterly wrong; to utter a sentence of disapprobation against; to censure; to blame. But the word often expresses more than censure or blame, and seems to include the idea of utter rejection; as, to condemn heretical opinions; to condemn ones conduct.
We condemn mistakes with asperity, where we pass over sins with gentleness.
2. To determine or judge to be wrong, or guilty; to disallow; to disapprove.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence towards God. I John 3.
3. To witness against; to show or prove to be wrong, or guilty, by a contrary practice.
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it. Mat 12.
4. To pronounce to be guilty; to sentence to punishment; to utter sentence against judicially; to doom; opposed to acquit or absolve; with to before the penalty.
The son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests, and to the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. Mat 20.
He that believeth on him is not condemned. John 3.
5. To doom or sentence to pay a fine; to fine.
And the king of Egypt--condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver. 2 Chr 36.
6. To judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service; as, the ship was condemned as not sea-worthy. To judge or pronounce to be forfeited; as, the ship and her cargo were condemned.
Rom 8:1 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.
-- Cynthia
Comments
Jul. 15, 2005 - Amen! Sister!
Posted by CMHomeschooler
When I got ahold of that truth, it changed my life. All God's condemnation fell on Jesus. He took it all for me!
Just a note, in case someone tries to destroy your victory by saying, "Well, there's no condemnation as long as you 'walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit". These words are not in my NAS Bible because they were added in, probably by some well-meaning scribe as he copied it--and couldn't believe it. In my KJV Bible there is a footnote that says, "The statement ends with "Christ Jesus'; the last ten words are interpolated."
My husband was rejoicing in this verse one time years ago when a friend of his said, "Well, when it says, 'No condemnation' it doesn't mean NO condemnation." This thought from Satan put my husband in bondage for many years after that, because he believed a lie. God was telling him otherwise, but Satan stole his joy.
"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do no walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit". The whole idea here is that we never could measure up to God's law. What we couldn't do, God did for us in Jesus. Then Paul contrasts the flesh and the Spirit, and concludes with this:
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." The focus isn't on us trying to quit sinning. It is on the Life of God in us fulfilling the "requirements of the Law in us". Not by trying to obey the Law, but by allowing God's Spirit to indwell and live in us." Great, isn't it??
Jul. 16, 2005 - no condemnation
Posted by Amanda
Oh, thank you for this post! Thank you for reminding me of what I already know, but can so easily be blocked from remembering.
http://crunchychristianmom.blogspot.com
