Guilt Free Living

I will begin today's blog with an apology to my wonderful friends who take the time to read what I write. This week came with a full schedule of events. However, I didn't want you to go into the weekend without something to think about.

This past Sunday, I preached a message titled "The Condemnation of Grace." It was the 4th sermon in a series of messages on GRACE. According to Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according the the Spirit." Two of the greatest hindrances of receiving the message of grace are: (1) Our Identity & (2) God's Identity. We really don't know who we are in Christ and we struggle with our understanding of who God is. We hear the words of Romans 8:1 and almost immediately think about our salvation experience. But this verse applies to where we are now.

When you are free from condemnation, you are free from guilt. There is no "adverse sentence" upon you. There is no judgement against you. In the grace of God you have been set free from the power of sin and the penalty. You no longer have to walk around in shame, humiliation, or guilt. Because of the blood of Jesus your slate is clean.

NO CONDEMNATION...

1) Because of Your Position
- According to God's Word, you are "in Christ." Old things have passed away - All things have become new. What normally happens in the believers life is that we begin with a lot of enthusiasm until we sin. Once we sin, condemnation creeps in and we fall into a world of shame and despair. We look for and expect judgment. But there is no judgement. God has dealt with your sin at the cross. Past, Present, and Future sin is under the blood. When this condemnation creeps in we think that it is the work of God in our lives. However, God doesn't condemn us any more. We are free from condemnation. What we have described as conviction from the Holy Spirit is actually coming from our conscience. The conscience is what God has placed within every person He created. This is where God has written His law upon our hearts. When we fail to live up to what we know to be right and wrong - conviction comes. But this isn't God pressing down on you.

2) Because of the Power at Work in You
- Romans 8:9-14 describes the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit of God is the guarantee of eternal life. He is the inner witness to the fact that you have been born again. His presence within you is the evidence of new life. He is in you to empower your life, to guide you into the truth of who you are in Christ, and to comfort you with the assurance of God's love. He does not deal with you the same way He does with the world. The Spirit convicts the world of sin but you are no longer of the world. You have been set apart!

3) Because of your Father
- The Bible goes on to say that the Spirit of God within you cries out "Abba, Father." He is the Spirit of adoption into sonship; not the spirit of fear unto bondage. This is why I say that you must know who YOU ARE in Christ and who God is in your life. You belong to Him and He is your Heavenly Father. You need not fear Him because you have been made acceptable. He is still the same Father that Jesus described in Luke 15:11-32 when He told to parable of the Prodigal Son.

THE BREAKDOWN:
There is no condemnation in you because of the death of Jesus on the cross. When you believed upon Him with your heart, it resulted in righteousness. The confession from your mouth resulted in salvation. The Spirit of God took up residence in your life and immediately began to cry out "Abba, Father" as a result of your adoption into the family. The law is gone (you don't have to gain God's favor) - righteousness is yours (in Christ) - and the Spirit of God confirms it to be true. There is NO MORE CONDEMNATION!!!

What do you need to do? How can you live a guilt free life? Agree with God! Agree with what He has said is true about you. The change from guilt to glory happens when you are able to confess by faith what God has accomplished. Then watch what the Spirit of God does in your heart as grace begins to flood your life. Your life will be different...and why not...you are now learning to live without guilt.

This Sunday I will be finishing up this series. I pray that God moves in the heart of our PBC crowd so that they can enjoy a life filled with grace. I pray that He moves in your heart as well. This is the change you need = GRACE!!!