John 3:17-18a “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned…”
Thank the Lord for this truth — I need to remind myself of it daily!
Growing up in a Christian home, I felt like I understood the truth of the Gospel pretty well. I constantly heard that God loved me and that Jesus died for me, yet I still spent much of my life feeling like Jesus was mad at me. I felt like I was so sinful that God couldn’t stand to be around me. In the shame and loneliness of sin, I would distance myself from Him, thinking I needed to show Him that I was really sorry for my sin.
To be honest, these same thoughts can still creep into my mind from time to time, even now. I can feel myself easily going back into that bad habit of guilt. Our enemy, the devil, wants me to believe that God is mad at me; that He is disappointed in me. Even to believe that He has given up on me. But, the truth of the matter is found in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.“ It continues in verse two, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
If you have placed your trust and faith in Jesus for your salvation, the truth is, Jesus has set you free from condemnation. He wants you to be free from guilt and shame. God does not disapprove of you. He is completely for you. God has placed your sin as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Your position before the Lord isn’t dependent on your own merit but on God’s faithfulness (Jeremiah 32:37-41), (Hebrews 10:17). When God looks at you, He sees the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) and He rejoices over you (Zephaniah 3:17).
Standing in His freedom,
Caleb
Posted in A Word from the Pastor