Daily Devotional For Monday, April 29, 2024

Over the years, there seems to be a division of several types of Christians. There is that group who will never admit to any of their personal sins. To them, it is a sign of weakness. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (ESV). What truth? Jesus Christ because He is the way, the truth and the life. We all sin, everyone does and to refuse to come clean about that is more than just self-deception and self-denial, it is sin. 

Pastor Allan Jackson is the pastor of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, TN. He said years ago, a man told him that he could not stay at World Outreach Church because the Pastor, Alan Jackson, admitted he struggles with sin. There are no sinless pastors. There are no sinless people. And there are not sinless church members. Sin is a universal problem and it is sinful to say we do not struggle with it. Yet, the Apostle Paul gives us a fantastic verse that helps us with this in Romans 8:1-2, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (ESV).

This means there is no condemnation for us now — at this very moment. Yes, we all struggle with sin but God has made a provision so that you and I do not have to live lives defined by sin, condemnation and judgment. While the Bible is a book of good news, it also is a book that shows the bad news of sin. Ever since the Fall, every single person born has been born with a sin nature. That is David’s point in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (NIV). This is why the Apostle Paul wrote these words in Romans 3:23. “For fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (ESV). 

This is why the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:3 says that “unbelievers are by nature children of wrath” (ESV). We are not simply defined by sin, but we apart from Jesus Christ, are completely overpowered by sin. On our own, we can never escape its control. Pastor and author John MacArthur writes this:

Sin is a defiling disease that corrupts every person, degrades every individual, disquiets every soul. It steals peace and joy from the heart and replaces them with trouble and pain. Sin is implanted in every human life, and its deadly force brings a universal depravity that no man can cure. Sin places men under the power of satan, the ruler of the present world system according to John 12:31. First, because of sin, all of humanity is born into the condemnation to the bondage of pain, disease and death (Read Job 5:7; Romans 8:20, 22). Second, because of sin we are heirs of God’s judgment (Hebrews 10:27) Third, because of sin there is a curse  on the sinner’s soul (Read Mark 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:22; Gal. 3:10 & 2 Thess. 1:8). 

This is why God is first justified in our condemnation. We all share in the sin nature of Adam (Read Romans 5:15-18). The second reason God is justified in condemning us is that every person is born with an evil sinful nature (Read Eph. 2:3; Rom. 2:6, 80. The third reason God is justified in His condemnation of us is that without Christ and repentance, we have no future forward to except eternal damnation in hell (Read. Rev. 20:14; Matt. 8:12) — Source: John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “Romans,” pp. 396-397).

That is the condemnation part, but thank God for Romans 8:1. I love what pastor and author Chuck Swindoll writes on this:

“We must not rush by the first word. The connecting word “therefore” is too important to ignore. It tells us that the statement “There is now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” is a continuation of a prior thought. In the dark desperation of Paul’s lonely and futile struggle against the flesh, he cried out, “Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (7:24). Note the future tense: “will set me free.” The issue of eternal destiny had already been decided (3:28; 5:1–2; 6:23). The question on Paul’s mind was his present struggle. And the answer came: “God through Jesus Christ our Lord [will set me free from the body of this death]” (7:25). “Therefore there is now no condemnation …” (8:1, emphasis mine).

Let me point out three crucial truths derived from Romans 8:1–4 (get your Bible and read this please):

1. 1. We are eternally secure, now as well as when we face judgment (8:1). God has officially declared our justification, and He never rescinds His word.
   2. We are internally free from the control of sin, now as well as when we get to heaven (8:2). The Spirit of life has set us free (past tense with ongoing results).
   3. We are positionally righteous, now as well as when we stand before our heavenly Judge (8:3–4). What the Law could not accomplish, God accomplished on our behalf through His Son.

I appreciate Paul’s putting this reassurance up front. It not only consoles the wretched, it frees us to hear and absorb what he has to teach us next” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Insights For Living New Testament Commentary, “Romans,” p. 170).

Read against Romans 8:1 again and let these words soak into your heart and soul — “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (ESV). Jesus said this in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (NLT). We have been set free from the power, the possession and the purpose of sin. 

1 Peter 2:16 says this, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (ESV). If you have given your life to Jesus Christ, live as free from the.condemnation of sin but never, ever use that freedom as an excuse to sin or to do evil. Why? First, it is sin. Second, you will “reap the consequences of what you sow” (Gal. 6:7). Third, you are choosing to return to the enslavement of sin rather than live free of it. 

Questions To Consider

1. Why do you think some people have one standard for their pastors in how they live and a totally different, even sometimes opposite standard for themselves?
2. Sin is a disease. It causes “dis-ease” in our lives. Just like a fatal virus infects our physical bodied, sin infects our spiritual bodies. What affects have you see or witnessed or even experienced from the infection of sin?
3. The Bible says in Romans 8:1, there is no longer any condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Why do you think some Christians still feel condemned? Why do you think some Christians condemn other Christians for their sin?
4. What do you think “no condemnation” means and why? The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 6:1-2 this, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (ESV). Now having read Romans 6:1-2, what does “no condemnation” mean to you now and why?
5. If we are eternally free from sin, if we are eternally secured from sin, why do we still sin?

Scripture To Meditate On: John 3:18-19, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (19) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (ESV). 

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, thank You that Your grace has freed me from the eternal condemnation of sin. Jesus, this means I cannot take Your grace for granted or choose to take advantage of Your grace as a license to sin. Thank You Jesus that Your grace does cover a multitude of my sins. Lord, give me a conviction to strive to live free of sin so that I honor You with my life. As David prayed In Psalms 51:10, `Create in me a clean heart Oh God,’ I pray that also. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! — Pastor Kelly