Romans 8:1 most likely refers to the conclusion from the entire first 7 chapters, which focus primarily on justification by faith alone, made possible solely on the basis of God’s grace. At this point the apostle begins to delineate the marvelous results of justification in the life of the believer. The word “no” is in the emphatic position of this verse and emphasizes the reality of the “no condemnation” that is ours as a believer. We do not read that there is no cause for condemnation in us, rather that there is no condemnation for us. Regardless of what we may have been as sinners, there is no condemnation for us because we stand uncondemnable by the work of Christ. It is important to realize that deliverance from Divine condemnation does not mean deliverance from Divine discipline. Nor does it mean escape from our accountability to Him. What it does mean is that we are declared free from the penalty of sin, and as such have the freedom to live at peace with God..… READ MORE

In Romans 8, we see the “Therefore” of “no condemnation”. This is a tremendous truth and a marvelous conclusion. The word “therefore’ has a threefold hinge that fastens all that follows in this epistle to the framework which has gone before in this epistle. These three aspects are: 1. Because of the truth of Justification (Chapter 3) 2. Because of our union with Christ (Chapter 6) 3. Because of our complete identification with Him (Chapter 7) This wonderful chapter is a declaration of the freedom we have a believers, and Paul declares the 4 spiritual freedoms that we enjoy because of our relationship with Christ. The first section verses 1-4 remind us that for those who are in Christ who are not walking according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, have no condemnation. The power of this verse gives us the liberty to live free from the fear of eternal destruction if we should fail at some point(s) of our lives. The wonderful privilege of the believer, is that when we enter the family of God, we are secure in our relationship. May we learn to live in the power of that wonderful reality.… READ MORE

In John 16:12-15 we see that the ministry of the Holy Spirit will be the driving force in our attempt to know the Lord. For the unbeliever He brings conviction of sin so that they will trust God. For the believer, He will bring assurance of Salvation in the midst of our imperfections, and to both he brings the understanding through the Word of God that God will deal with this sinful world. The true believer loves the Word of God, and believes it because of the work of the Spirit. If you have a relationship with God, you should have a desire to know and understand the Word of God. If you are not interested in what God says, and what is found in the pages of God’s Word then you most likely do not have the indwelling presence of God in you. We must understand that where the Spirit is not, God does not reside there also. On the contrary, Where the Spirit of God is there is God. Walking in the Spirit does not mean sinless perfection, it means that we are sensitive to the sinful choices that we make, and we humbly approach God for forgiveness … READ MORE