No Condemnation—in Christ Jesus

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2, KJV

Condemnation is an expression of strong disapproval. Why would there be strong disapproval? Well, disapproval comes when walking after the flesh—the sinful nature. The works of the flesh are adultery—sleeping with someone else’s husband or wife, fornication—sleeping with anyone and you’re not married, uncleanness—morally defiled, lasciviousness—lustful or lewd, idolatry—placing anything above God, witchcraft—sorcery and its branches, hatred, variance—strife, emulations—jealousy, wrath—vindictive anger, seditions—rebellious of peace, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling—carousing, and other things of such. We cannot please God in the flesh for those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth.

The good news is that there is no disapproval of those in Jesus Christ walking after the Spirit. Walking after the Spirit yields things that are most longed after: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Against these things there is no law because those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, the Godless human nature. So, if we live by the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit, helping one another, not tearing each other down and ready to give and not always expecting to receive. Let us aim to have an attitude that is Christ-like, you can never go wrong there. The Bible states in Romans 8:6, KJV, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

How many of us desire peace? I know that I do. Peace of mind away from the things of this world. Peace from death (spiritually dead separated from God), peace from those who hate you, peace from those who love sin, peace from those who ridicule or challenge God. God is not mocked, but some still live in the ignorance of not knowing the path they travel. And then there are some who know exactly what they are doing and the fact that it is indeed wrong, yet choose to do it anyway. The seriousness of their condition escapes them, expecting another day that has not been promised.

As revealed in scripture, to be carnally minded is death. We are mortals, held in this body by breath that was given to us by the Almighty God. How fragile the human life. If we considered on a daily basis those on life support, those who die in car accidents, plane crashes, robberies, childbirth, or even in sleep, the perspective of our existence may change from complacency to thanksgiving. We thank people who open doors for us, who pull out a chair, who allow us to cross the street while they sit in a stopped car, and who compliment us on our clothes, but what about thanking Jesus? What about thanking Him for dying for us?

In Jesus Christ, there is no condemnation, that’s not why He came to earth. “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved,” John 3:17, KJV.

Are you saved?

Additional References: Romans 8:1-11, Galatians 5:16-26, John 3:16-21

By One Spirit

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13, KJV

The analogy of the human body and the spiritual body of believers is wonderful. We must all labor collectively. Just as fingers work together to pick up a cup of water or to write an email, members of the church body must come together as one to accomplish a goal or complete a given task. Each has an integral part. No one part is better than the other, they just have different functions.

Often in churches, many are “title seekers.” The only title that really matters is Christian. We’ve heard the term “true Christian,” I’ve used it as well, but I wondered, what is that? A Christian is a Christian—either you are or you aren’t. That’s like saying a little pregnant, either you are or you’re not. But then I looked at the words Jesus spoke, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth...," John 4:23, KJV. I understand now that He knew in advance that this term would indeed be needed. There are so many make-believers that the distinction has to be made clear.

What about the person behind the title? It is the same outside of the church, a doctor is no better than a janitor, a CEO of a company is no better than a person at entry level, a pastor is no better than an usher or choir member—just different functions. And each function must be occupied to make the operation run effectively. Have you ever seen a call center with no customer service representatives? Have you ever effectively printed something out with no paper and ink, but you had a printer? What about a car with no wheels? Where would you go? “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body,” 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, KJV.

We all need one another as believers, a gift God has given you I may not have. I believe God did this for a reason, so people won’t get full of themselves or the big head. No one person has everything. If a person did, that person would be God, and Jesus is no longer walking on this earth. “So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another,” 1 Corinthians 12:25, AMP

Do we care for one another? Do we offer friendship, a helping hand, or a kind word? What about a smile? Do we even care …enough to love?

Additional References: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, 1 Corinthians 13