If you’ve ever taught a
child how to ride a bicycle (minus the training wheels), you know there is
plenty of falling, crying, and scraped knees (and elbows), and getting back up (on
the bike) before this skill is mastered. Isn’t that a wonderful analogy of how
God is with His much-loved children?
The reality of Romans 8:1 is
that God doesn’t express disapproval of you because of your past (no matter how
awful it might be). This reality is best expressed is Mandisa’s song, “Not
Guilty.” Read the words below. What are you feeling right now? Do you realize
how lucky you are?
Verse One
I stand accused
There's a list a mile long
Of all my sins
Of everything that I've done wrong
I'm so ashamed
There's nowhere left for me to hide
This is the day
I must answer for my life
My fate is in the Judge's hands
But then He turns to me and says
There's a list a mile long
Of all my sins
Of everything that I've done wrong
I'm so ashamed
There's nowhere left for me to hide
This is the day
I must answer for my life
My fate is in the Judge's hands
But then He turns to me and says
Chorus
I know you
I love you
I gave My life to save you
Love paid the price for mercy
My verdict not guilty
Verse Two
How can it be?
I can't begin to comprehend
What kind of grace
Would take the place of all my sin?
I stand in awe
Now that I have been set free
And the tears well up as I look at that cross
'Cause it should have been me
My fate was in the nail scarred hands
He stretched them out for me and said
Chorus
Bridge
I'm falling on my knees to thank You
With everything I am I'll praise You
So grateful for the words I heard You say
Chorus
I'm falling on my knees to thank You
With everything I am I'll praise You
So grateful for the words I heard You say
Chorus
Carefully read Romans 7:14-8:4 (NIRV) below:
Chapter Seven
14 We know that the law is holy.
But I am not. I have been sold to be a slave of sin. 15 I don’t understand what I do.
I don’t do what I want to do. Instead, I do what I hate to do. 16 I do what I don’t want to do.
So I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, I am no longer the
one who does these things. It is sin living in me that does them.
18 I know there is nothing good in my desires
controlled by sin. I want to do what is good, but I can’t. 19 I don’t do the good things I
want to do. I keep on doing the evil things I don’t want to do. 20 I do what I don’t want to do.
But I am not really the one who is doing it. It is sin living in me that does
it.
21 Here is the law I find
working in me. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 Deep inside me I find joy in
God’s law. 23 But I see another law working
in me. It fights against the law of my mind. It makes me a prisoner of the law
of sin. That law controls me.
24 What a terrible failure I am! Who will save me from
this sin that brings death to my body? 25 I give thanks to God who
saves me. He saves me through Jesus Christ our Lord. So in my mind I am a slave
to God’s law. But sin controls my desires. So I am a slave to the law of sin.
Chapter Eight
Those that belong to Christ Jesus are no longer
under God’s judgment. 2 Because of what Christ Jesus
has done, you are free. You are now controlled by the law of the Holy Spirit
who gives you life. The law of the Spirit frees you from the law of sin that
brings death. 3 The written law was made weak
by the power of sin.
But God did what the written law could not do. He
made his Son to be like those who live under the power of sin. God sent him to
be an offering for sin. Jesus suffered God’s judgment against our sin. 4 Jesus does for us everything
the holy law requires. The power of sin should no longer control the way we
live. The Holy Spirit should control the way we live.
Many times, don’t you feel like a robot broken in “wrong
mode?” Every fiber inside you wants to live morally, physically, and nutritionally
correct. You seem powerless to make the changes that are needed.
Good news, you are exactly where the Heavenly Father
needs you to be in your life right now. God does not condemn you for your lack
of perfection. Like a card key to a luxury hotel room, Jesus sinless life on earth; His brutal
crucifixion (and scourging) sacrifice (for anything wrong you will ever do);
and His resurrection (from the dead) are reasons that you as His precious son
(or daughter) can enjoy the undeserved grace (bonuses) that are the result of
His unselfish devotion to you.
The Almighty needs you to know what is in Hebrews 4:15-16
(MSG). “Now that we know what we
have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it
slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our
reality.
He’s been through weakness and testing,
experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what
he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”
The Heavenly Father has been
intimately acquainted with you before (and after) you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5,
Isaiah 49:1) He knows you better than
you do yourself. (Psalm 51:6, Proverbs 38:36)
Go easy on yourself because
you will make loads of mistakes (goof ups) during your life time. The Almighty
is available 24/7 whenever you need Him. Literally, God is just a prayer away.
(Psalm 55:17)
*Inspired by the sermon “Because You
Belong…Your Guilt Is Gone!” (Installment One) Pastor Dave Jansen, July 10,
2016, CenterPoint Church Gahanna, Gahanna, OH
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