Romans 8:1 – Verse of the Day 8/24/14

Can you imagine what it would feel like to be a criminal found guilty of a terrible crime and condemned to life in prison? What if you were condemned by something worse – the death penalty? While serious crimes do demand serious consequences, it is easy for us to forget that we were all once spiritually condemned by our sin to much worse consequences.

In this verse Paul reminds us that if we have faith in Christ, though, we no longer stand condemned! Our new life in Christ Jesus means we have been saved from sins guilt and sins eternal consequences. Because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we are united to the Father through the presence of Christ. As a result we no longer need to fear condemnation, because when the Father looks at us He sees the righteousness of Christ!

We no longer need to fear God as one who will judge us but rather as one who loves us and has even adopted us as His own children. Biblical fear indicates reverence for our loving Father, and eradicates any worry that He will condemn us. Thank God for the gift of forgiveness that welcomes us into God’s family as children and heirs of all the benefits that come through faith in Jesus!