Without Condemnation

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We are being taught today that if we will take the four steps of salvation we now have our ticket that proves we are without condemnation and will go to Heaven when we die.

However, this is not what the Bible teaches. (4/17/2005) The burden today had to do with Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

This verse was written to Jews who were troubled over the idea of leaving the Torah and placing their faith in Christ. Paul was telling them that they could look to Jesus and still be counted righteous, without condemnation, even though they were not adhering to the statutes of the Law of Moses.

We Gentile do not understand this background. We have fastened on the idea of making a profession of faith in Christ, and thus receiving a permanent freedom from condemnation whether or not we behave righteously.

We interpret the verse as follows: "There is now no condemnation for those who take the four steps of salvation." This is not what Paul said. Paul taught, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Is there any difference between taking the four steps of salvation and being in Jesus?

Yes, there often is a world of difference between the two.

The first is a doctrinal position, often accompanied by an affirmation of faith in Christ.

The second is a way of life. Being in Christ Jesus means exactly that—living in Christ.

There are millions of people in the United State who have taken the four steps of salvation, who have professed faith in Christ as their Saviour and Lord, but who are not living "in Christ."

To be in Christ means we are not obeying the sinful impulses of our flesh and spirit. We are looking to the Holy Spirit for all things. The Holy Spirit becomes our law—the Law of the Spirit of Life.

Numerous believers today are oppressed with various bondages. Some are alcoholics. Some are addicted to narcotics. Some are bound with gossip, lying, stealing, arrogance, unbelief, unforgiveness, bitterness. They know these are sinful practices. One response is to try to overcome and then fail to gain victory. Another is to claim we are saved by grace so it does not matter how we behave.

Neither response is the salvation Jesus Christ came to bring to us. Christ came to destroy the power of Satan in you and me. It is up to us to press into Christ until we gain full release from the power of darkness.

Our nation is dropping into a moral cesspool because the good works of Christ are not always being revealed in the Christian churches. Isn’t that the truth?

We can and we must be delivered from the works of the sinful nature if we expect to remain without condemnation. We are without condemnation as long as we are abiding in Christ. We abide in Christ by praying every day, reading our Bible, gathering with fervent saints, looking to the Lord for help in making the decisions we are faced with each day.

Listen: "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." Can you hear what Paul is telling us? He is saying that the righteous requirements of the Ten Commandments are fully met in us if we do not yield to our sinful nature but follow the Holy Spirit at all times.

Is it possible to follow the Holy Spirit at all times? Absolutely. We just have to make up our mind that this is how we want to conduct our life.

We are in need of revival in America. We have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. The handwriting is on the wall. The Spirit of God is calling for a revival of repentance. We shall have such a revival, but it will be in the midst of trouble.

The wise individual will set his house in order to the best of his ability. Ask Jesus to help you. The darkness is coming, and only those who are living "in Christ" are going to be able to save themselves, their families, and those friends who will listen to them.

You can be a deliverer throughout the age of moral and physical horrors that is approaching, but you will have to be abiding in Christ at all times.

You can do it if you really want to!

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