Free from Condemnation

Have you ever been told that you would go to hell for doing a thing? Like putting on trousers or jewelry as a lady? Or braiding your hair as a guy because both are forbidden and getting involved in such can make you go to hell? Yeah, literally everyone I know has been told that or have received the "condemnation gospel". I grew up believing that too, and at some point in my life, I became a critic and a judge, criticizing and passing judgement on people, hating on people who did not follow the same doctrines I followed growing up and saying they would go to hell for putting on a certain kind of jewelry or getting their nails done.

One of the best things that has ever happened to me was getting to know God for myself. For the first time in forever, being a Christian stopped feeling like a burden or some sort of imprisonment. Romans 8.1, one of my favorite verses of the Bible tells me that I am no longer condemned because I have chosen the life of Christ and have decided to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in me. It gives me an assurance of a spot in Heaven because I will live a life led by God's Spirit, and I will be totally obedient and submissive to what He says.

Now, that's the gospel. John 3.16 says it all, "God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him will not perish (be condemned) but will have an everlasting life (a life filled with hope on earth and an assurance of eternity with the Father. The only way out of hell is believing in God and in Christ's finished work of salvation on the cross. Now, we don't get saved by acting righteous or following rules and doctrines laid down in the Bible. After Adam sinned against God and brought sin upon mankind, God appointed and anionted prophets and priests over His people, so that He can send His word through them to His people. He gave out laws and doctrines for His people to follow so they can live righteously. But then, He discovered that no amount of laws could stop people from sinning. It was like, the more laws He brought, the more people sinned. At first, He made a provision for the atonement of sin through the sacrifice of the blood of goats and lambs, but that was never enough. People still sinned and brought more calamity.

Let me point out something quickly. The reason why there is so much evil on earth and bad things happening to both good and bad people is because of the sin of man. It was never God's plan to watch His people suffer. Infact, from the beginning of time, God placed man in a Garden of Paradise, where we don't have to strive to feed, live or grow. He provided all we needed and wanted. It was after the fall of man that we lost our spot with God and that gave way for every other bad thing that followed. God hates to watch His people suffer, hence from that beginning, He started revealing Himself to some people through His Holy Spirit still, walking with the people that chose to walk with Him, so He would find a redemption plan for His beloved people. Truth is, regardless of the magnitude of our sins, God's love for us never reduced. God hates sin, not man. All He's been trying to do is to separate us from sin so we could be one with Him again, just like in the beginning. After many unfulfilling attempts of redemption through sacrificial lambs and burnt offerings, He decided to send His son, Jesus, to make the ultimate sacrifice. In Matthew 5.17, Jesus tells us He did not come to break the laws or the prophets that brought the laws, but He came to fulfill it, every single one of them. What laws was He talking about? All those ceremonial Old Testament laws God gave through the prophets so that His people can live righteously, Jesus came to fulfil all of that. By doing so, we no longer have to fulfill the laws to be made righteous or considered Holy in God's eyes. We just have to believe and trust in the finished work of Christ. Jesus has fulfilled all those laws on our behalf. The law reveals sin, but cannot fix it (Romans 3.20), only Jesus can and has fixed the problem of sin by giving His blood for atonement. We don't have to follow any of that anymore. That's Salvation, God's free and undeserved gift to man. We didn't do anything to earn that, and we don't have to do anything to earn Salavtion or God's love.

Now, once we believe and confess Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour, God gives us a gift of His Holy Spirit. Because we have chosen the life of Christ, God puts His Spirit in us to teach us how to live right with God. His Spirit in us tells us what to do, when to do it and how to do it. He also tells us what not to do. It could be by convicting our hearts and spirits on the things to not do, and giving us a reassuring peace in the things He wants us to do. The sixth and seventh chapter of Romans explain very clearly that believers are no longer under the law, that is we are not subject to the law having received and accepted Christ, because we walk, not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Is the law still valid? Yes, very much so. However, it is for unbelievers not believers, to keep them upright and prevent them from living immorally. The moment one accepts Jesus, the person goes above the law and now lives in Christ and walking by the Spirit.

Galatians 2.19-21 (MSG) says 'What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that'. This verse explains the difference between living in the flesh and following the leading of the Spirit. It also explains what transpired in between, the transition from living in the flesh to the Spirit.

Our sins were transferred to Jesus while He was on the cross. Our sinful nature was crucified with Christ. When He rose from the dead, we rose with Him in righteousness. Now we are no longer under the law nor are we under the power of sin and death. We live above the laws, above principalities and powers. We dwell in the Heavenly place with Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father.

We no longer have to follow laws to live righteously. In fact, really, we cannot live a holy life without the help of the Holy Spirit. We don't have to be spiritual enough to be worthy of His presence in us. We just have to be willing and intentional to accept His presence and rulership in us. Surrender to Jesus today. Be as real and authentic as you are. Don't try to hide your flaws, frustrations, anger or any negative emotion or unhealthy part of you. He sees and knows everything. Hiding it means denying it and God won't fix what you're denying. Own up and show up real to God and let Him fix you and transform your life through His Holy Spirit, working within you to fix you. Surrender to God today, that's the best decision you will ever make.