Condemnation part 3
If condemnation is an adverse sentence, or verdict, and God's verdict for us was an everlasting, eternal, abundant, Resurrection Life sentence, then it is easy to see why there is now no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus. And, to me at least, it's easy to see that when Jesus was lifted up from the earth on the cross, and drew all men into Himself, that we all belong to Him. Which means, using Logan logic, that there is no condemnation for any of us. Now, having said that, let me point out the last part of Romans 8:1 (From the KVJ), "There is therefore now no condmenation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Because while I do like to take a little bit here and a little bit there and link things together, it's important that we don't just ignore things that don't seem to fit into our theology. Luckily for me, I seem to see things differently than most "traditional religious folk." Because to THEM, they take this to mean, "There is no condemnation IF you walk after the Spirit and not the flesh." But let's look at that premise-- If you were only walking after the Spirit... what could you be condemned, or have an adverse verdict about? Forgiveness is important because all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, right? If you don't need it... it's not very important. If you don't need "no condemnation" then it doesn't really need to be pointed out. It's like Luke 6:32 (NLT), "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!" Which is to say, again, forgiveness is important because we needed it. Grace is important because we need it. Mercy is important because we need it. Not having God hold our wrongs against us is important because we need it. So what I'm saying is: It's not an "If-Then" statement. It's not "If you walk after the flesh, then you will have no condemnation." Of course that's true. You know, if you ignore the fact that some people out there will condemn you no matter who you are or what you're doing. My point is, BECAUSE there is no condemnation we CAN walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. You know what I've found? I've found that if someone is going to condemn me for something I haven't done... I feel like I might as well do it. Make the crime fit the punishment. If people are going to condemn me, I might as well make it worth my while. Right? Or, you know, the flip side of that... the more excellent way that says, "GOD is not condemning you, and has given you everything you need to experience His life... so stop listening to the condemnation of others, stop doing things you don't really want to do, and walk in newness of life!" It seems that a lot of the time we are like the man under the law who Paul writes about in Romans chapter 7. "I find myself doing the things I don't want to do, and not doing the things I want to do." And doesn't it line up perfectly that shortly after writing about the struggle (again, under the law, under the idea of external behavior modification) Paul writes our key verse for this Rant series? After saying he can't live what people think of as a "perfect" life... he says there is no condemnation! He says nothing can seperate us from the love of God! That's our blessed assurance! That's why the idea of "no condemnation" is so important. Even when we mess up God doesn't give an adverse verdict! On the cross He didn't give a death sentence. Jesus laid His life down. Three days later the Father raised the Son back to life and gave an everlasting, eternal, abundant, Resurrection Life sentence! If you mess up... learn from it and keep moving forward! There is grace to grow. There is no disqualification. No condemnation!