No Guilt, New Life

I. You’re Not Guilty Anymore

Verse: Romans 8:1

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

• Condemnation means being declared guilty and punished.

• If you are in Christ, God doesn’t condemn you.

• You’re not perfect—but you’re forgiven and accepted - you’re washed by the blood of Jesus.

Application:

Stop living under guilt and shame. Jesus set you free and declared you Holy, live set apart! Be different. 

II. You’re Called to Walk Differently

Verse: Romans 8:1b, 4

“Who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

• “Walk” means your lifestyle, your daily choices. Your actions. 

• “Flesh” = living for sin and selfish desires. Your worldly desires. (Default mode)

• “Spirit” = living for God, led by His voice. Trusting Him to lead. 

Key Thought:

True faith shows up in how you live—not perfectly, but differently.

III. The Law Couldn’t Save Us—Jesus Did

Verses: Romans 8:3–4

“For what the law could not do… God did by sending His own Son.”

• The law shows us what’s right, but it can’t change our hearts. The law is like Elliot was sharing a few weeks ago. It’s like your parents tell you not to grab a cookie out of the cookie jar but you do it anyway and get in trouble. It’s a list of rules.

• Jesus came in human form, lived perfectly, and died in our place.

• He did what we never could—set us free and gave us power to change.

Application:

You’re not saved by rule-following. You’re saved by Jesus’ sacrifice.

IV. What You Set Your Mind On Shapes Your Life

Verses: Romans 8:5–6

“Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh… but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

• Your thoughts shape your desires, and your desires shape your life.

• “Flesh-minded” = living for now, living for self.

• “Spirit-minded” = living with God’s truth and eternity in view.

Key Question:

What do you think about most? That shows what you live for.

V. You Either Belong to Jesus or You Don’t

Verse: Romans 8:9

“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

• You can’t fake having the Holy Spirit.

• If you’re in Christ, the Spirit lives in you—and He changes you from the inside out.

Warning and Invitation:

You are either in the flesh or in the Spirit. Either you belong to Christ or you don’t. Tonight I want to invite you into making the decision to live in the Spirit and belong to Christ. What are you waiting for? Turn your life to Jesus, repent of your sin, and live life pursuing the Lord!

Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to you that there’s no condemnation in Christ?

2. How can you tell if you’re walking in the flesh or in the Spirit?

3. What’s something you’ve been thinking about more than God lately?

4. How do you know if you have the Holy Spirit living in you?

5. What would it look like for you to “walk by the Spirit” this week?