“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
At the cross, Jesus says, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). I’m always struck by the fact that Jesus doesn’t defiantly utter this after the pain of the cross has subsided, but right smack dab in the middle of it. Nails in his hands, breath growing shallow, shame on full display, and what flows out of Jesus is forgiveness. Let that sink in for a moment.
That picture reveals the heart of God. But Romans 8 shows us the result of that moment for us.
“There is now no condemnation…”
Not less condemnation.
Not delayed condemnation.
Not “no condemnation, assuming you don’t mess up again.”
No, there is NOW NO condemnation. Right in this very moment, the moment you’re reading this, the moment I’m writing it, and the moment later on today when you’re in the middle of whatever your day holds. There is never any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. None.
This is where many of us struggle. We believe God forgives, but we still feel guilty. We carry shame like a low-grade hum in the background of our lives. We replay failures. We wince at memories. We assume God tolerates us, but that he must, deep down, be very disappointed in us.
But Romans 8 doesn’t just say you’re forgiven, it says you are no longer condemned. Condemnation is more than guilt. It’s the verdict. It’s the sentence. It’s the final word over your life. And in Christ, that word has been completely removed. Why? Because the cross didn’t just cover your sin, it dealt with it fully and removed it completely. The punishment has already been carried out. The verdict has already been spoken over Jesus.
So when you carry guilt and shame, you’re carrying something that no longer belongs to you. Paul goes even further, “The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free…” You are not just forgiven, you are set free. Free from:
The need to prove yourself
The fear of being exposed
The weight of your past
The cross doesn’t just pardon you. It releases you. So when shame creeps in, and it will, you can answer it with truth, “That’s not my verdict anymore.”
Today, bring whatever you’ve been carrying into the light. Name it. Confess it. And then, just as importantly, leave it at the cross. Because in Jesus, forgiveness isn’t just offered. Guilt and shame are finished.
Ryan Paulson
Lead Pastor