“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
“Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:34-39
Many Christians fail to grow in their relationship to Christ - not because of indifference or sin - but due to nagging feelings of guilt and condemnation. We feel unworthy of God’s blessings. We are convinced He cannot love us anymore because of what we have done or said.
This inner turmoil is the work of Satan who seeks to destroy our fellowship with the Father. A distorted view of our performance lies at the root of this evil. We somehow think if we live righteously enough, then we merit God’s approval; if we falter, we must face His disapproval. This kind of thinking is false.
God has accepted the Christian completely - based on the forgiveness provided by Christ Jesus on the cross. We are no longer under God’s wrath, but we are recipients of His grace which is given without respect to performance. Grace came to us freely at salvation and continues to flow thereafter.
No misdeed can sever our personal relationship with God. If we have sinned, confession and repentance restore total intimacy. Sacrifice or penance in the form of good works or self-denial are useless.
If feelings of guilt have stunted your fellowship with Christ, they can be removed instantly by your humble confession. Never let your performance hinder God’s grace.
“Who is the one who condemns?...” Romans 8:34
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Dealing with Guilt
“So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:18-21
Why is the cross the resource for dealing with guilt? Because all men and women one day will stand before God to have their sins judged. Those who have received God’s pardon by faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice will not be condemned. Those who have not had their guilt removed through the cross will be condemned for eternity. The cross is the basis for dealing with guilt.
The ten-year-old who steals a pen in school, the teenager who cheats on a test, the adult who cheats on his income tax - all experience certain degrees of guilt. For the believer, that guilt is the work of the Holy Spirit Who seeks to convict us. He does not condemn us. His conviction is to bring us back into fellowship with the Savior. That happens when we admit our wrongs, confess our sins to God, and receive His forgiveness.
Will we still endure the consequences? Yes. The ten-year-old may have to stay after class; the teenager may be suspended; the adult may pay a fine or spend time in jail. Still, forgiveness of our sins restores our relationship to God and releases guilt’s grip on our emotions. Our guilt has been atoned for by Christ for which we can be eternally grateful.
“...Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow...” Isaiah 1:18
Why is the cross the resource for dealing with guilt? Because all men and women one day will stand before God to have their sins judged. Those who have received God’s pardon by faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice will not be condemned. Those who have not had their guilt removed through the cross will be condemned for eternity. The cross is the basis for dealing with guilt.
The ten-year-old who steals a pen in school, the teenager who cheats on a test, the adult who cheats on his income tax - all experience certain degrees of guilt. For the believer, that guilt is the work of the Holy Spirit Who seeks to convict us. He does not condemn us. His conviction is to bring us back into fellowship with the Savior. That happens when we admit our wrongs, confess our sins to God, and receive His forgiveness.
Will we still endure the consequences? Yes. The ten-year-old may have to stay after class; the teenager may be suspended; the adult may pay a fine or spend time in jail. Still, forgiveness of our sins restores our relationship to God and releases guilt’s grip on our emotions. Our guilt has been atoned for by Christ for which we can be eternally grateful.
“...Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow...” Isaiah 1:18
Sunday, May 22, 2011
How to Handle Guilt
“I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
The newspaper headline read: “Bank Robber turns Himself in After 20 Years.” The accompanying story told how a man finally had gone to a local jail and confessed to a crime he had committed twenty years before. Why would he voluntarily surrender to authorities when he might not be found out - at least on earth? “I just could not live with the guilt anymore,” the man said.
Guilt afflicts the entire human race. We know the inner gnawing and churning that come with having violated the moral or civil code. It drives some to depression, others to compulsive behavior, others to suicide.
The foundation for dealing with all guilt is the cross where Christ died. Jesus, the Son of God, became a guilt offering for us. Because Christ bore God’s ultimate judgment, we are free to experience the forgiveness of God.
When we receive Christ by faith, God declares us “not guilty.” The slate is clean. We are pardoned from our sin - from both its penalty (which is death) and its guilt. Our consciences are cleansed and our burdens are lifted.
“Seek the LORD while He may be found...For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
The newspaper headline read: “Bank Robber turns Himself in After 20 Years.” The accompanying story told how a man finally had gone to a local jail and confessed to a crime he had committed twenty years before. Why would he voluntarily surrender to authorities when he might not be found out - at least on earth? “I just could not live with the guilt anymore,” the man said.
Guilt afflicts the entire human race. We know the inner gnawing and churning that come with having violated the moral or civil code. It drives some to depression, others to compulsive behavior, others to suicide.
The foundation for dealing with all guilt is the cross where Christ died. Jesus, the Son of God, became a guilt offering for us. Because Christ bore God’s ultimate judgment, we are free to experience the forgiveness of God.
When we receive Christ by faith, God declares us “not guilty.” The slate is clean. We are pardoned from our sin - from both its penalty (which is death) and its guilt. Our consciences are cleansed and our burdens are lifted.
“Seek the LORD while He may be found...For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Place of Fasting in Prayer
“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18
We want the power to live the Christian life. The problem is that often we are unwilling to employ or submit to the disciplines which release the power of the Lord Jesus.
In his book, How to Pray, R.A. Torrey explains the relationship of fasting to prevailing prayer: “If we want to pray with power, we should pray with fasting. This, of course, does not mean that we should fast every time we pray. But there are times of emergency or special crises, when men of earnestness will withdraw themselves even from the gratification of natural appetites that would be perfectly proper under other circumstances, that they may give themselves up solely to prayer.
There is...power in such prayer. Every great crisis in life and work should be met in that way. There is nothing pleasing to God in our giving up things which are pleasant in a purely Pharisaic and legal way.
But there is power in that downright earnestness and determination to obtain, in prayer, the things of which we strongly feel our need. This feeling of urgency leads us to put away everything, even things that are normal and necessary, that we may set our faces to find God and obtain blessings from Him.”
“So we fasted and sought our God...” Ezra 8:23
We want the power to live the Christian life. The problem is that often we are unwilling to employ or submit to the disciplines which release the power of the Lord Jesus.
In his book, How to Pray, R.A. Torrey explains the relationship of fasting to prevailing prayer: “If we want to pray with power, we should pray with fasting. This, of course, does not mean that we should fast every time we pray. But there are times of emergency or special crises, when men of earnestness will withdraw themselves even from the gratification of natural appetites that would be perfectly proper under other circumstances, that they may give themselves up solely to prayer.
There is...power in such prayer. Every great crisis in life and work should be met in that way. There is nothing pleasing to God in our giving up things which are pleasant in a purely Pharisaic and legal way.
But there is power in that downright earnestness and determination to obtain, in prayer, the things of which we strongly feel our need. This feeling of urgency leads us to put away everything, even things that are normal and necessary, that we may set our faces to find God and obtain blessings from Him.”
“So we fasted and sought our God...” Ezra 8:23
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Needed: A Positive Confession
“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37
If you attached a tape recorder to yourself, what would the playback reveal concerning your speech at the end of a day? Our conversation can reveal much regarding our spiritual commitment. Do we truly believe in and live by the truth of the Scriptures, or does our language mirror an ordinary worldview?
A positive confession, based on the Scriptures, bolsters our faith and encourages others. We may be in a bad financial situation. Do we complain about our state? Or do we confess the truth that our “God will supply all (our) needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19)? Our confession in such circumstances mirrors our genuine belief in the power of God and His Word which sustain us, encourage us (and others), and build truth into our lives.
A positive confession is a testimony to others. As they hear our trust in God verbalized, they are confronted with the truth. Our words and our lives are sermons that preach to everyone around us. What we say can point an unbeliever to Christ while keeping our spiritual compass fixed on Him.
Let your speech be an accurate sounding of God’s truth.
“Let the words of my mouth...be acceptable in Your sight...” Psalm 19:14
If you attached a tape recorder to yourself, what would the playback reveal concerning your speech at the end of a day? Our conversation can reveal much regarding our spiritual commitment. Do we truly believe in and live by the truth of the Scriptures, or does our language mirror an ordinary worldview?
A positive confession, based on the Scriptures, bolsters our faith and encourages others. We may be in a bad financial situation. Do we complain about our state? Or do we confess the truth that our “God will supply all (our) needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19)? Our confession in such circumstances mirrors our genuine belief in the power of God and His Word which sustain us, encourage us (and others), and build truth into our lives.
A positive confession is a testimony to others. As they hear our trust in God verbalized, they are confronted with the truth. Our words and our lives are sermons that preach to everyone around us. What we say can point an unbeliever to Christ while keeping our spiritual compass fixed on Him.
Let your speech be an accurate sounding of God’s truth.
“Let the words of my mouth...be acceptable in Your sight...” Psalm 19:14
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Key to Contentment, Part 2
“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
How is God sufficient for our every need? “My grace is sufficient for you...” (2 Cor. 12:9). The unlimited, immeasurable, superabundant grace of God is adequate for all our needs. What is grace? It seems so vague. It sounds nice, but how do we grasp it?
Ron Hutchcraft, a popular radio speaker, defined God’s grace in this way: “Grace is whatever you need, whenever you need it.” In other words, grace is custom-tailored to your personalized set of needs.
Do you need courage? God’s grace is sufficient. Do you need hope? God’s grace will supply it. Do you need wisdom? God’s grace is more than adequate. Do you need financial help? God’s grace will provide a channel of aid. Knowing the sufficiency of God’s grace, we can learn to be content in our circumstances. Regardless of the situation, there is nothing that God cannot supply with His abounding love and favor.
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ today for His amazing grace that fits your most pressing demands - perfectly.
“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John 1:16
How is God sufficient for our every need? “My grace is sufficient for you...” (2 Cor. 12:9). The unlimited, immeasurable, superabundant grace of God is adequate for all our needs. What is grace? It seems so vague. It sounds nice, but how do we grasp it?
Ron Hutchcraft, a popular radio speaker, defined God’s grace in this way: “Grace is whatever you need, whenever you need it.” In other words, grace is custom-tailored to your personalized set of needs.
Do you need courage? God’s grace is sufficient. Do you need hope? God’s grace will supply it. Do you need wisdom? God’s grace is more than adequate. Do you need financial help? God’s grace will provide a channel of aid. Knowing the sufficiency of God’s grace, we can learn to be content in our circumstances. Regardless of the situation, there is nothing that God cannot supply with His abounding love and favor.
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ today for His amazing grace that fits your most pressing demands - perfectly.
“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John 1:16
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Key to Contentment
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13
Secrets - whether a grandmother’s special recipe or a company’s unique product formula - are rarely revealed. In his letter to the Philippian church, the Apostle Paul provided all who would read the Scriptures with the secret of contended living. Paul announced to them and us that he was content in life - whether he had scraps for dinner or a feast, whether his purse was bulging or flat. His secret is shared in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
The Greek word for contentment is translated “self-sufficiency” or “self-satisfaction.” That may surprise you. At first glance, Paul appears to say that the secret to contentment lies in his own resilient self. But what he was expressing was this: “My self-sufficiency, my level of contentment, lies in the sufficiency of Christ to meet my every need. I can endure rain or shine, darkness or light, sorrow or joy because through Him I am equipped and sustained.”
Paul’s secret is yours. Despite the circumstances, you can enjoy true contentment when you accept the truth that Christ is adequate for your every need - in good times and bad.
“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” 1 Timothy 6:6
Secrets - whether a grandmother’s special recipe or a company’s unique product formula - are rarely revealed. In his letter to the Philippian church, the Apostle Paul provided all who would read the Scriptures with the secret of contended living. Paul announced to them and us that he was content in life - whether he had scraps for dinner or a feast, whether his purse was bulging or flat. His secret is shared in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
The Greek word for contentment is translated “self-sufficiency” or “self-satisfaction.” That may surprise you. At first glance, Paul appears to say that the secret to contentment lies in his own resilient self. But what he was expressing was this: “My self-sufficiency, my level of contentment, lies in the sufficiency of Christ to meet my every need. I can endure rain or shine, darkness or light, sorrow or joy because through Him I am equipped and sustained.”
Paul’s secret is yours. Despite the circumstances, you can enjoy true contentment when you accept the truth that Christ is adequate for your every need - in good times and bad.
“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” 1 Timothy 6:6
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