Beautiful Word: Your Daily Devotion

Daily Scriptural Insights, Curated by the Editors of CT | [View online] [ChristianityToday.org] [Donate] [Beautiful Word Newsletter] Tuesday, January 03, 2017 No Condemnation [Heather Holleman] Today’s Verse Powered by the [New Living Translation] “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 7:24–8:2 [View in context] Do you ever feel like you’ve ruined your life, like you’ve sinned too much, and that you’re beyond forgiveness? Are you trying to please God by your good behavior now? Oh, how quickly we depart from gospel truth as soon as we’re dealing with sin in our lives. How quickly we resort to winning God’s affection through obedience and good works. What would it take to believe that we were declared, once and for all, righteous before God? In Isaiah 53:5 we read, “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Because of Jesus, we meet God’s righteous requirement. Because of Jesus, we’re released from the punishment of sin. Because of Jesus, we’re not condemned. No matter what. This declaration is the most astonishing, history-changing, cataclysmic message to Satan: You have no power to condemn me because of Jesus. Jesus’ death on the Cross and his shed blood secured righteousness for those who have received him. We’re covered by it now and for always, and it extends into our past and far beyond ourselves to even atone for future sin. This good news provides an answer to the rejected, lonely, confused soul who now has been welcomed into God’s presence and belongs forever in his family. Reflect: Read Romans 7:24–8:2. Now read them again. Let the truth really sink in. What does it mean to you live free from condemnation? Pray: Pray by meditating on Romans 7:24–8:2, repeating it quietly, mulling over each phrase and idea. Heather Holleman is the author of [Guarded by Christ]. She is a speaker, writer, and faculty member of Penn State's English Department. Adapted from Guarded by Christ: Knowing the God Who Rescues and Keeps Us by Heather Holleman © 2016. Used by permission. [www.MoodyPublishers.com]. [Read devotions online] | [Share with a friend] More for Women [Our Top 10 Articles of 2016] [Our Top 10 Articles of 2016] Readers and editors rank the best posts of the year. [In the Valley of Postpartum Depression] [In the Valley of Postpartum Depression] Why is it so hard for Christian women to seek help? Lindsey Carlson Follow Us [Facebook] [Twitter] [RSS] [Subscribe to this newsletter] In the Current Issue [January/February] [The Pressure to be Justified] [Subscriber access only] [Reading the Reformation in 2017] [Subscriber access only] [Pro-Life's Reformation Ripples] [Subscriber access only] [View Full Issue] [Subscribe Now] Christian Bible Studies [Colossians: Against the Tide] [The Book of Colossians teaches principles for living a Christian life in the midst of a non-Christian culture.] [9 Session Bible Study] [Beautiful Word] Delivered via email to subscribers daily. [Subscribe] | [Email Preferences] | [Unsubscribe] | [Privacy Policy] | [Advertise] | [Subscribe to CT] You are currently subscribed as: {EMAIL} Copyright ©2016 [ChristianityToday.org], Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.