Romans 8:1 ESV “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. “

Our pastor this Sunday preached on this one passage this Sunday. It is such a powerful proclamation of what the gospel means for us who believe in Christ. Even though we still struggle with sin on a daily basis, there is now no condemnation for it. No matter our failings in parenting, marriage, work, ministry, whatever – if we believe in Christ, we are children of God, washed clean by his pure blood, and renewed by the Holy Spirit as new creations in Christ. As verse 2 says: the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. We are free from guilt and shame and do not need to live in it. We are free to live a life of faith and joy, knowing at this very moment we are his beloved children and have eternal life. Even though we still struggle with sin, it has no hold or mastery of us.

It explains this further in Romans 8:14-17: 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.“

While we deal with suffering in this world broken by sin and our own struggles, we have the Helper, the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us even when we do not know what to pray. We are being transformed more and more into his image as we behold the glory of Christ and look to His return when we will be glorified.

Romans 8:28-30: 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.