“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1.
Some like Psalm 23. Others John 3. Hebrews 11 is a favorite of many. Without a doubt, Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. What I believe about salvation and about the spirit-filled life comes from this chapter. Christians spend all of their earthly lives saying, “Oh, I just can’t wait to get to heaven!” The truth about the Good News of the gospel is this: You don’t have to go through a cemetery to get heaven, it is available right now. John Pearson in the classic hymn wrote, “Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul.” If you’re not experiencing the spirit-filled life, you’re probably living in spiritual misery and missing out on God’s glory.
Romans 8 is all about living out the gospel in the abundance of the Holy Spirit. Think of the Bible as a ring and Romans as being the biggest diamond set in the ring. Romans 8 would be the pinnacle point of that diamond. In Romans 8 you start out with “no condemnation” and you end up with “no separation”. In the middle, it’s you and God “working out all things for the good.” For the believer to live in that spirit filled mindset, there must be a continued reminder of who we are “in Christ”.
First, I am NOT Condemned for My Sin.” When you trust in Christ you can be certain that you are forgiven. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1. When Christ comes into your life you are pardoned, not paroled. Your guilt is gone! You may feel guilty, but the reality is that you are forgiven! Second, “I am NOT Constrained to Sin!” There is nothing that can force you to sin. Before you came to Christ, there was a law working that had a stranglehold on you. But NOW, Jesus has “breathed LIFE into the believer” “For the law of the SPIRIT of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2. Third, “I am NOT Charged with My Sin!” Horatio G. Spafford wrote the hymn “It is Well with My Soul”. One of the verses says, “My sin. Oh, the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin–not in part but the whole–is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, Oh, my soul!” The believer can say, “I am not charged with my sin.” Every believer needs to get out of living Romans 7 and take permanent spiritual residences in Romans 8. It is TIME to operate under the law of the spirit of life. Fourth, “I am NOT Controlled by Sin.” The Holy Spirit NOW who lives within us. A life of holiness is possible ONLY when we choose to yield to the Holy Spirit. A spirit-controlled Christian is one who chooses to say, “Yes!” to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We need to choose to live in the life-giving potential of Romans 8. It would change your marriage, your job, your family, and your attitude about life. It would literally change everything about your life. What will be your choice?
