Derek started with
Rom 7:14-24
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Rom 8: 1-2
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.
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. Maybe I should just leave it at that as these are awesome verses...
Paul beats himself up then finds there is now no condemnation in Christ. It's tempting to leave it there and let you ponder the greatness in those verses and let you grab a hold of it, to do that and let you keep it. To keep it and and for you not to let others spoil it for you.
John was talking passionately about Grace the other week and we saw how he struggled in trying not to not be too light on sin saying something like “ you can do anything... accept you can't” We know what he was trying to say.
But sin, sin has no bearing when your in Christ. Listen you can't take it / have it both ways, no condemnation in Christ but then say, there is! Who will rescue me from this body of sin, it says? And then it goes on to say, Now No Condemnation. Who will rescue me ? There is now no, Now, No, condemnation. That's crazy, that we wouldn't condemn someone for their actions, that jars!
But Sin's days are done, the nails are being banged down on sins coffin read Rom 6.
Sin is dead to you, yes Paul struggles with it, he wrestles with it, but, sin is dead in us, it still effects us, shapes us, but it's dead, it's dying. Now, it says, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
We have told sin, we don't want any part of you, you are not me sin, we have been made new, until I exorcise you completely we are at war until Christ comes back. I am not bound by my sinful nature I am not against God, I don't know why I'm I doing this God it's not me, I'm not like those outside of God.
We don't like the idea sometimes of someone being in Christ and getting some sort off get out of jail free card for being in Christ, well what can you say when you read, now no condemnation, it's too good to be true I know, but this time it is true! True because of Christ, because he loved the Father.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of harsh words, you were wrong and I'll let u know, but well, if there is Now no condemnation from Christ or God do we then condemn? Do we go up to the plate and take a swing.
Sometimes we have high expectations of one another. We let one another down in a way we wish we did not, but, well, we are in Christ, and there is now no condemnation.. It doesn't sit right. We see so much condemnation in the world and, well do we follow suit? Footfall fans are the same, slating there team, newspaper condemn and so on, we condemn.
Samuel L Jackson loves to play golf, one day his caddy taught him some humility, after Sam lost the rag after a particularly bad shot. His caddy said to him your not good enough to get that upset. What! Sometimes that's how we need to be ourself, your not that good enough to loose the rag with you brother or sister or whoever else, nor fall out that easily with anyone, your not that good enough to get that angry over someone else sin, the sin that is died and dying that you and I and Paul struggle with.
Remember when your brother or sister is looking at you and saying I cant help it, sin made me do it, it might not be an excuse it just might be the truth. But take heart all who are involved with sin your Father offers no condemnation.
Yes we still have to judge and execute it and remind each other we are in Christ. We are still a moral example but as to dishing out condemnation let's not.
Sometimes we may go the other way and beat ourself up about our sin, remember God and our savour will not condemn us why would you try to out God, God .
Our Father loves us so much and His love drives out fear, while His love is made complete in us, lets have confidence in dealing with our sin and how we deal with others sin as we live with Christ our love becomes more complete.
As for sin, sin is dead, in the gallows, waiting for the execution to take place. In the present reality it may seem sin has some hold, but it doesn't it's dead and we, we are made alive in Christ.