There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus
Amber Rice Miller
February 2, 2014
373
Summary: Amber shares the remarkable truth that if you have received Jesus as your Savior, you are not condemned anymore.
Do you ever feel condemned, like you are not ever good enough? I used to live in an almost perpetual state of condemnation (with a little self righteousness thrown in here and there). I was condemned if I did and condemned if I didnt. It seemed like I was just never good enough. I would read my bible and get condemned, because I didnt seem to measure up to Gods standard. I would play sports and be condemned, because I messed up one too many times and could have made a few more shots. When I was around people I would be condemned because I should have said something different or I shouldnt have spoken at all. I was always looking at myself and how I didnt measure up. My focus was always on me. Looking at ourselves instead of Jesus will always result in either condemnation or self righteousness.
Without being aware of it (and I wouldnt have know what this meant even if you told me), I had a law based mentality. Under the Old Testament law (meaning the Ten Commandments and the ordinances following it), you were always condemned. When you sinned, you had to offer up a sacrifice for your sin. That just temporarily covered your sin, it didnt take it away. Sin was always on your mind. The law was to make sin come alive in you, and for you to die (Romans 7:9). It was to make you see your need for a Savior (Galatians 3:24).
Did you know the Ten Commandments were called the ministry of condemnation? Now I know that most people dont believe me, but let me show you from Gods word. Second Corinthians 3:9 reads: For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
If you read the previous verses, the whole thing is talking about the Ten Commandments, because in verse 3 it says, clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, NOT ON TABLETS OF STONE but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. What was written on tablets of stone? The Ten Commandments! Verse 7 even calls it the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones. Verse 6 says that the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
Am I throwing a loophole in anyones theology yet? What is the point I am trying to make? Glad you asked. My point is, under the law peoples focus was always on themselves and what they had to do. They had to earn Gods approval through their works. They were blessed if they did everything right. If not, they were cursed. We are not to have this mentality anymore, although I think it is prevalent in many Christian circles, like it was for me. We arent to look to ourselves but look to Jesus. Romans 8:1 says: 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.
If you have received Jesus as your Savior, you should not feel condemned. God isnt the one putting those condemning thoughts in your head, saying that you arent good enough. They are either from yourself because you are ignorant of this truth, or they are from the enemy, trying to get you back under condemnation.
I cant put into words what knowing this truth has done for me. When I received revelation of it from the Holy Spirit, it was like these heavy chains that had weighed me down for so many years just fell from my body. That is one of the reasons I am so on fire for Jesus, because I am so thankful for what He has done for me! When I sin I dont have to gravel in the dirt anymore, hang my head and beat myself up. I can still come boldly to the throne of grace! (Hebrews 4:6)
I have learned so much about this, and want to see others set free as well. I will be expanding more on this topic, so stay tuned!
(Questions or comments? Amber can be reached at amberdeemiller32@gmail.com)
