Romans 8

Romans 8 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord".

Let me say it again in case you did not catch it.....or don't want to hear it...or don't want to believe it ....THERE IS NOOOOOOOOOOOO N-O, N-O, N-O NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST!"
no condemnation at all....none for those that belong to our faithful Father. Interesting portion of scripture, is it not? Romans 8 can't be broken up, in my opinion, and the more and more I tried to break it up the more drafts I wrote and the more paper baskets I made. Then I just said "ok God, they read it all." I don't feel bad for making you read a whole chapter from the LIVING Word. We have brains, we can handle it!

Condemnation- to decide, try, punish, avenge, condone, damn, decree, conclude, sentence to, to be..do..declare wrong, to consume wholly by burning.

Greek...krima: a decision (the function or effect for or against breaking of law), the PROCESS LEADING TO THE DECISION...very interesting isn't it...

This whole idea of condemnation has been sitting so heavy on my lower back for the past 2 weeks. I have been writing and writing to get it off but God, nor I, was ok with what was said. So all of Romans 8 is now up and God has given me the go signal. PRAISE HIM!

This post theme was brought to me within a matter of minutes. I had just gotten in the car from having dinner with a friend. The radio was on but very low and as I began to drive...I began to just pray out loud about the conversation that had taken place that night. 5 minutes into praying my mind is instantly awaken to the very clear and Very intentional chorus that was playing. I stopped and simple heard the singer repeat over and over....."There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ..wooo wooooo oooo..(something like that) there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

I was so taken back. Every time God opens my eyes to something that I have seen or heard before but never in the way I am seeing or hearing it now...I GET OUT OF CONTROL EXCITED! I said the chorus 2 more times and then the convo between God and I just began to overflow. That chorus was not just somebodies amazing ability to write but it was flat out scripture! I was coming from having a convo with someone that is so stuck in self condemnation and my confusion with that began to turn to being upset. If the Bible says that we are free..then we are free. Why is it that so many claim all the feel good scriptures but heaven forbid that they claim the scriptures that SET THEM FREE or require more from them......OR DARE I SAY...choose to BELIEVE THEM.

I'm really struggling with this. Romans 8 is all about our sinful nature and our spirit nature. We make the choice every morning to allow God to work and move through us or make the choice to just do what we want. Why is it that more people know Jerm 29:11 and spend so much time talking about being safe and plans but can't believe God when He says we are forgiven. I mean, I have sinned severely in my life and paid the consequences.......and Father has made me work the thing out till it no longer had any hold on me. But I have NEVER, NEVER doubted that I wasn't really forgiven. Never. I'm bothered by the fact that people hide behind FALSE HUMILITY and use it as an excuse of why they can't walk in freedom.

Believer? then your free. then your forgiven. I guess it bothers me so much because between God and I there is a very clear understanding about salvation. There is a very clear understanding that He had to allow His son to be CONSUMED by every sin we have or will commit. And because His son was so full of sin He had to look away and His son had to really die alone.....all for you and me. What bothers me is when we are so wrapped up in us and what we have done and how bad we think it is..........we become are so self consumed that we can't understand that forgiveness is as simple of confessing it and getting our mind on the fact that we are here only to serve God and share the Gospel....BECAUSE there is NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST!

While studying condemnation Father said "confession too Caroline". That made so much sense to me. They are hand in hand with walking in freedom.

Confession/confessing- to acknowledge, AGREE FULLY, to throw, to worship...(interesting), to revere, expressions of thanks.

I am a huge fan of confessing sin. In fact, I wrote a post that I never put up of all the reasons why I love confessing sin. I love the "agree fully" part that I was so wrong and Father is SOOOO write. I love the way He lifts the burden off my shoulders and after my prayer time my body is much more relaxed. I hate when I choose to not confess and I feel like I can't even talk with Him. Then I tell my stupid pride to hit the road and there I am again...listing all the things I have done...and he forgives me and I feel His peace wash over me. I find it so interesting that to "confess" was both with sin and with worship. I bet many of us would agree that after our prayer time of daily confessing we have a more worshipful heart. We know we were forgiven and many times I have the best praise and worship experiences. Why?.......

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives". 1 John 1:1-9

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy". Proverbs 28.13

Unconfused sin is heavy and just builds and builds day after day to the point we become cold and distant. We allow satan to keep us down when a simple prayer could instantly lift us up. Oh we serve a God that is quick to listen and slow to anger....BUT IS ALWAYS NEAR! Confessing sin is a DAILY MUST! It is what allows God open room to work and move in and through us. It is what allows me to hear God clearer, feel Him and see Him at work, and to depend more on Him knowing I am a mess without Him. Repentance says that we trust Father above all and that we know we mess up time and time again but we trust that He is WHO HE SAYS HE IS and HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS HE CAN DO!

This is my favorite part of all of this. CONFIDENCE!!!!!!! The three C's. It makes so much sense to me to end with a positive. To start with a word that means a punishment we rightly deserve but don't get because we are covered by the blood of Jesus, then to a word that if used it allows us such open communication with Father...freedom to walk forward with our eyes on Him and then end with a word that mean.............

Confidence- to trust, sure, safety, securely, assurance, TO EXERCISE COURAGE, boldness, to rely, essence

this is my favorite part.......tharrheo..greek word meaning...TO BE WARM...a warmth that comes from inner confidence.

So interesting. Let me bring this "longest post ever" together for you. I think the last definition says it all. WARM. When we are able to accept God's ability to forgive us, cut us down, grow us back, mold us again, turn us up and down, and clean out all the crap in us.......then we fully understand that there is NO condemnation for those of us in Christ. Because we know we can go to Him and CONFESS our sins and be FORGIVEN....then we are able to, in turn, walk in CONFIDENCE that is covered with the Grace of God.

"Let us approach the throne of grace with CONFIDENCE, so that we may RECEIVE MERCY and find GRACE to help us in our time of need." Hebrew 4

"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth." Ps 71.5

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him." jer 17.7

"So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Heb 13.6

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." 1 John 5.14

Doesn't that make sense? Cold people, mean people, ugly people........9 times out of 1o.......if they say they are believers.....don't trust that God forgives, don't feel the need to confess their sins, and don't walk in confidence. They lack "warmth"....the type of warmth that is from the inside out. The type of warmth that comes from really knowing God and BELIEVING HIM.

Knowing that we are forgiven and can get on with doing what we were made to do.........GIVE GOD A WHOLE LOT OF GLORY AND HONOR AND PRAISE!! So stop making everything about you. It isn't about you but Him. Isn't about me but Him. Just let Him in and let Him do what He does best. I DARE YOU!

Father- You forgive ALL. I am forgiven. I know that with all my heart. You dwell in me. Behind and before, under and over, to the left and to the right, in and around..........set these people free. Give satan a very bad night and allow these people that are so wrapped up in self condemnation to see that there issues are not too big. You are the Lord God, open WIDE their mouth and fill it with TRUTH! You are the healer, changer, LIFE GIVER. So I pray and ask in Jesus Name that you work on the hearts I am praying for and those reading! Thank you for saving me. Thank you for allowing me a small taste on earth of How MIGHTY YOU ARE! Nothing can separate me from you! Amen. Amen.