NO CONDEMNATION

What does it mean that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and why does it matter?

“We”

Who in here likes crime & justice TV shows and movies?

What does it mean to be condemned?

Pass judgement upon; declare guilty and treat accordingly

Does anyone in here know who OJ Simpson is?

In June 1994, OJ Simpson become the lead suspect in the murder of his ex-wife and her friend

“Trial of the century”

Five days later when his whereabouts were revealed, he ran away in perhaps the most boring, slow car chase ever

Ford Bronco

Evidence all pointed toward OJ Simpson doing the crimes- DNA evidence, the car chase, alibis changing and not adding up, wrote a book about it, motive, etc.

Not to say he did it, but… he did it.

Yet OJ was not condemned by the justice system… he was found not guilty and walked away from that courtroom with no penalty

Like OJ, we stand convicted of a crime.

Unlike OJ, who has a tiny bit of wiggle room to argue he was indeed innocent, we have NO ROOM to argue that we are innocent

Without a shadow of a doubt, we are guilty

What are we guilty of?

Sin

How is it our fault? What did I do? I didn’t do anything that bad, dude. I just told my mom I was here rather than there.

Was this tiny, little thing actually that big of a deal?

This isn’t even as much about what we do as it is the condition of our heart and soul

The root cause is the true issue. The matter of the heart. Cosmic treason against God

Nothing is more desirable than God.

If you still want to appeal… try to take God to court. There is no one higher than God. No one gives God authority

Colossians 1:15–20 CSB

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

What is treason? What does treason mean?

We sinned by our cosmic treason and our rebellion against God. We spit in His face by choosing our own way and will over His. We don’t regard Him as holy- we hardly regard Him at all.

Yet here’s the Good News- despite all His majesty and power, Jesus is our Advocate

1 John 2:1 CSB

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one.

Gospel

“God”

Read Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1–4 CSB

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Verse 1

Because of what Jesus did, we are considered not guilty and walk away free.

Like OJ Simpson, we walk away free. Yet we get to walk out of the Highest of Courtrooms uncondemned

This offering was once and for all. This offering would provide continual, ongoing freedom from condemnation.

Do you think OJ was relieved? Did he change his life? Was he thankful?

OJ walked away rather smug

Look, OJ got arrested in 2008 for armed robbery

Galatians 5:1 CSB

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Pay close attention to your attitude towards this forgiveness and new life- it’ll tell you a lot about your heart.

We weren’t set free so we could get a free pass!

Verse 3 & 4

Our freedom came at a price- the price of Jesus’ blood. He was our sin offering.

Ephesians 2:10 CSB

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

If anything, we are set free to become God’s servants

We now are free to take part in the redemption of the Gospel

You see, the Gospel redeems all things. It is much more vast than what we can imagine

Think about it- we live in a broken, sin sick world. God promises a new world free of Satan and sin.

Romans 8:20–22 CSB

For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.

Would you say America is more focused on individualism or unity?

Not to our entire fault, we are a nation of individuals

We don’t grasp what it means that God is also in the work of redeeming groups of people at large. Nations. A whole Kingdom that God is calling us into. We have a part to play. Call to Action like we discussed a couple weeks ago

Redemption has begun!

Beautiful sunrise, beach, mountains, delicious food, family and loved ones.

This is the world groaning!

“You”

We can be a force of Light that pushes back against the darkness

Boredom isn’t about a lack of things to do- it is about a lack of interest. Chores

You shouldn’t be bored. You shouldn’t endlessly scroll through Netflix and Instagram

We have a role to play with eternal implications

To be a force for good is more simple than it sometimes looks

Don’t steal, cheat, lie, complain constantly, use bad language. Don’t be angry all the time. Be kind! Encourage! Love others!

People will begin to think that you are an alien. You aren’t of this world!

Colossians 3:23 CSB

Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,

Work hard!

Can we tell the world about God in other ways than sharing the Gospel in words?

Yes, sharing the Gospel is important. But it isn’t our only way to be His witnesses.

This one is important- STOP CONDEMNING YOURSELF

Who ever condemns yourself?

This is what I mean: you treat yourself like a punching bag. You beat yourself up.

Stop it. Stop.

God redeems BIG (entire nations and whole world).. but God wants to redeem your thoughts too

Rely on your Advocate and Sustainer.