Monday, July 29, 2013

Verdict: NOT GUILTY

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1-4 NIV

How much would a prisoner living on death row desire for the warden to come and declare him not guilty? This is how we all live apart from Jesus Christ. We are separated from God bound to live a life without hope for eternity. There is a heaven and a hell and anyone who does not choose Jesus to lead their life and dwell within them is as condemned as a prisoner on death row. For those who think they have time to wait...you may want to think again. NO choice is a choice. You either choose Jesus or not. Choosing Jesus means that God grants you pardon from your life of sin and brings you into the life that Jesus died to give you. Like verse 1 in the Scripture above says, "There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (emphasis mine). Jesus died to break the power of sin and death over His people and has accomplished it. He has done it.

The only thing left to do is to accept it. Are you willing to accept the grace and forgiveness that God has provided through the work Jesus did on the cross as He died, in the grave as He broke the bonds of death and arose, and in the resurrection as He ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede on our behalf? Are you willing to cry out to Jesus so He may claim you as His own and declare you NOT GUILTY before God the Father? He will be coming back one day for His children. Is your name in the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5)? Does He know that you belong to Him? Be assured and comforted that if anyone calls on the name of the Lord, he (or she) will be saved (Acts 4:12). There is hope because we have a Savior who has paid the price for our redemption (John 19:30). Won't you call out to Him today?

There's Something about the Water

There's something about the water that allows me to box up all my cares and give them to God. When life gets heavy and I need to let go,...