Tag: free

No Condemnation

“There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but walk according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1(NKJV)

It is damaging when others condemn us. I think even more harmful is when we condemn ourselves. We are our harshest critics and we need to know that our heavenly Father does not condemn us.

It is okay to be genuinely sorry or upset with ourselves about something we have done wrong. We need to ask for forgiveness from the person and from God. Genuine sorrow for sin is always given forgiveness from our gracious Heavenly Father. You are set free. Let it go.

“So if the Son sets free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

There is no condemnation for you. Jesus paid our debt when He shed His blood on the cross. The cross took care of ALL our wrong doings once and for all.

Jesus did not come to condemn us, but to save us, to bring us back to a right relationship with God. (John 3:17)

This broken, sinful world may condemn us if we stand up for Jesus and what is right. Don’t allow criticism to sway you or take you off the “right” path. The path the LORD has laid out for you.

We may be condemned if we aren’t a certain weight, look or act a certain way or reach a certain status. That somehow, if we don’t measure up to the worlds measuring stick…we may be of less value. Not true. That is not how God, our Creator, sees us. God loves you. John 3:16

Don’t be so hard on yourself. If you have done wrong, confess and don’t do it again. Jesus clearly tells the woman caught in adultery…

“She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:11

When Jesus set us free, He set us free from ALL the tentacles of sin that try to strangle us, to steal our joy, to get us to doubt our value. That freedom includes being free from self condemnation too. You and I are free my friend! We have a brand new chance. “Neither do I condemn you…” What a wonderful Savior!

Good Friday

I had often wondered why the day my Lord Jesus died is called “Good” Friday. It seems odd to call a day good when such terrible things were done to Him and He died.

From the betrayal the night before, to most of His closest friends abandoning him, to the scourging, ridiculing and outright lies told about Him, It seems there was not much good leading up to Friday. It goes from bad to worse, Jesus is so weak from the beatings and loss of blood, yet He must carry His own cross to the crucifixion site. Being fully man, He is tired and in excruciating pain, yet He says not a word.

He feels all that we would feel if we had gone through this day instead of Him. His human body is near death. He does not call legions of angels to help Him. He could have. I know He could have. He is fully God… in human flesh.

It should have been me on that cross. I’m the guilty one, not Him. He is perfect. He could have said, “Forget it, she’s not worth it, Take Me home Father.” But He did not say anything like that. He has to finish. He is the only Way to be reconciled to the Father. My sin is great but His love is greater.

He has one more thing to say but His lips are so parched. He is thirsty. He has been on the cross nearly 6 hours and probably without water since supper the night before.

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said,…I thirst! Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth” John 19:28

He is also fulfilling Psalm 69:21.

“They gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:21

Maybe, do you think…He needs to wet His lips, to speak so the people can hear. As He struggles to take a breath, He knows it is time.

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30

“It is finished!” What Jesus came to do, He finished. Our sin debt was PAID IN FULL! Woo Hoo!

I understand now why it is called “Good Friday” GOOD NEWS for you and me! He had to die to defeat sin & death. To finish the hold it had on us. In three days, on Easter, He rises from the dead so we can live!
When we choose to make Jesus our Lord & Savior…we are FREE!

GOOD JOB my AMAZING SAVIOR. Thank YOU!