Graphics by Martha G. Brady

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus

from the law of sin and death. 

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. 

By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, 

he condemned sin in the flesh, 

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, 

who walk not according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit. 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds

on the things of the flesh,

but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds

on the things of the Spirit.  

For to set the mind on the flesh is death,

but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God,

for it does not submit to God’s law; 

indeed, it cannot.  

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,

if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  

But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin,

the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,

he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead

will also give life to your mortal bodies 

through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:1-11

Recently, I keep being drawn to Romans 8. I haven’t always known that was where I was going to land, but I would think of a passage, hunt it down and end up here! When I think of all the teaching in this book and specifically that is found in Romans 8, it really isn’t too shocking…

So today I just included this wonderful passage. It is a wonderful reminder of the fact that if we are in Christ, we are no longer condemned! So many of us struggle for much of our lives as believers, with guilt and wondering if we will truly make it to heaven. Have we done enough? Have we obeyed enough? Is GOD pleased with us?

We know we can’t make it on our own based on our qualifications. But sometimes all the pieces just don’t fall into place. It doesn’t make sense. How could we go to live with GOD and the “good people” forever?

None of us will be naturally good people. Our goodness to get into heaven will only be based on the goodness of Jesus.

That’s right. It will only be because of Jesus! I used to hear that and wonder what ever sense that made. In many ways, it totally doesn’t! But Jesus is the One who died for me and paid for my sin. He is the One who provided a way to satisfy GOD’s justice as well as his mercy and love!

There is no good reason He took on my sin. There was nothing about me that was good enough or special enough. But He reached down in mercy and grace without ignoring His justice, and was able to forgive me in a way that I do not stand condemned before GOD anymore. The same can go for you too.

Amazing!