No Condemnation

 

August 22, 2015

Devotions:

        “Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” ‭Romans‬ ‭8:33-34‬ ‭NASB‬‬

        We are God's elect the ones who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior and are born again. Who can bring a charge of condemnation against us? This is refering not only to other people but also to ourselves.  We are not to condemn ourselves when we do not live up to our own standard.  Paul says that it is God who justifies us.  God laid all tha punishment for our sins past, present and future, on Jesus.  Jesus became the propitiation or full satisfaction for all our sins.

        Then Paul asks, "Who is the one who condemns."  Then only who had the right to condemn was Jesus.  Remember in John 8 where the Pharisees brought the woman who was caught in the very act of adultry and they said that the law said that she should be stoned, which was true.  But what do you say Jesus.  They were trying to catch Jesus in a trap of denying the law to show mercy.  He had a reputation for mercy and not judgement.  (God never shows mercy at the expense of His justice). But Jesus said let him who is without sin cast the first stone.  Of course none were without sin except Jesus.  When Jesus looked up and all the accusers were gone, He asked, "where are they who accusers?" She said that they had all left and He said that neither did He condemn her.  Jesus was the only one without sin and could cast a stone but He did not.  As Paul says here that instead of casting a stone He took our place to recieve the judgement.  Not only that, Jesus was vicorious over sin and the grave and is seated at the right hand of the Father, the place of honor and authority.  From that place He does not condemn us when we miss it but rather He intercedes for us from the place of honor and authority of the whole universe.  

        Do not condemn, criticize or judge others or yourself.  The Father is not and Jesus is not.  Instead do what Jesus is doing for us and others, intercede for yourself and for others and call down God's mercy upon them and yourself.

Edgar Norris