Week 16
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
A new kind of Pharisaism has arisen in the modern evangelical world. Condemnation is everywhere! This is so much so that one might even describe the present state and culture of American evangelicalism as a condemnatory environment. Everybody is a critic!
This is a new kind of Pharisaism. One of the intrinsic ideas of Pharisaism was that they put themselves in God’s place to pass judgment on everyone else according to their pharisaical beliefs, instead of God’s Law. To be sure, every Pharisee would attempt to defend his “take” on God’s Law, and for certain he would attempt to show how his human ethical system and moral necessity were rooted in God’s Law. But the application of God’s Law is NOT the same as God’s Law! And our personal perception of God’s Law is NOT THE SAME AS GOD’S LAW. The failure to make this distinction has caused all sorts of consternation in the church throughout the centuries. Tragically, this is a form of idolatry!
Not only does the Pharisee add to God’s Word, but the Pharisee always uses his human guidelines as oppressive tools to coerce and condemn others who dare to live a life of nonconformity to them. Even though the Pharisees will always argue that they are standing for God, for right, and for truth, in fact, they are angry that someone would have the audacity to disagree with them.
The solution to this, and all other problems is the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ, through Christ’s atoning work on the cross, and by means of His mediation in heaven as the High Priest, for those who look to Him in faith, all condemnation is GONE! There now is NO CONDEMNATION for those in Christ Jesus. We are free in Christ!
One of Paul’s main ideas in the Book of Galatians was to urge most stringently the Galatian Christians not to let anyone put them under bondage again. To follow a human idea or ideology instead of Christ and the gospel of the cross is to deny Christ and the gospel altogether! How can the church preach Christ and the gospel when it substitutes its views for God’s clear and unmistakable truth in Scripture? It can’t; this is a false gospel!
Dear precious Christian friend, revel in the freedom you have in Christ! Do not be subject to bondage again. God’s wrath is satisfied in your case, and His justice is fulfilled on your account. You are forgiven and free in Christ! Rejoice! But remember what the Bible says in Galatians 5:13, “You were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Use your freedom in Christ to serve Christ and others for the sake of love and the kingdom of God. There is no greater joy than the joy we have in Christ; live free and worship Him who set you free.
Prayer: Dear Lord, so often I live by someone else’s laws and demands, not Your Word. And I must confess many times I live my life the way I want to live. But I know that this is contrary to the gospel and to Your will. Please forgive me! Help me to learn Your Word well and seek to apply it in such a way as to honor Your Word and Way. Amen.