1 So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.
Reflection
The word “condemn” is frightening. It gets your attention. To “stand condemned” is a phrase that evokes a death sentence. To condemn a building means it will soon be destroyed. The origin of the word is closely related to “damned.”
Many of us carry guilt and shame related to things we’ve done in the past: shortcuts we took that compromised our integrity, ways we feel we’ve failed ourselves or others, things we’ve done that hurt the people we loved. A lot of us condemn ourselves every day.
If you struggle with guilt, read Romans 8. It’s full of reassurances that no matter what, God loves us. It’s book-ended with three verses that speak precisely to that. It begins with the idea that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Why? Because nothing can separate us from the love of God that we find in him.
God’s love is greater than any sentence of condemnation – whether passed on us by ourselves or others. There is no condemnation for anyone who is in Christ Jesus. His love is our all in all – our promise of forgiveness and release from guilt.
And if God won’t condemn us, then why should we condemn ourselves?
By Joe Monahan
For Pondering & Prayer
If there’s something you’ve done that you feel is unforgivable – that you can’t let go of – what would it mean to write your feelings about that time in your life down and then burn that paper as a reminder that God has already forgotten?
Prayer: Lord, I pray today you can release me from the guilt and shame of things I’ve done, or left undone – for ways I’ve failed myself, others, and you. I trust that there is no condemnation in the love of your Son Jesus Christ. Help me not to condemn myself. Amen.
Comments are closed.