I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:15-17 NKJ
“there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 NKJ
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 NKJ
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: ” Romans 8:1-4 NKJ
Holy God,
Only You are Holy. Only You are good through and through. We may have fleeting glimpses of being good. Some live what is called a good life but they are still sinners. We all fall short as Paul reminds the church in Rome. He writes at great length and with the knowledge that some of them know the Law of Moses well and some know nothing of it. So he explains that there is no benefit in either. They have it in black and white, not condescending and not too high brow, the truth.
All of us are sinners. And sin must be dealt with. But no sacrifices will ever be enough to cancel it. No money can buy it and there is not one of us good enough. Jesus, Your Son, who showed us how to live a sinless life, was the only one good enough to pay the price of sin. And then Paul’s letter to the Romans states the powerful truth of the gospel: there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Those who have accepted His gift of mercy and decided to ask Him into their lives.
No condemnation. Every time I see a movie where the hero or heroine is saved at the last minute I remember that I have already been saved. It will not be a last minute snatch from the gates of hell I know I am safe. I know I am forgiven. I know God has accepted me because of Jesus. The enemy can try to shame or remind me . . . I may let myself and God down on occasions . . . I may have the odd moment of doubt that God could love me so much . . . But there is now no condemnation. The truth echo’s through eternity and deposits itself in our hearts. Wow, what a God we have.
In Jesus name we pray and praise, Amen.
Two worships today . . .
Amplify Your anthem
Of grace within my soul
Let me hear the wonders
Of Your redeeming love
And let me hear those saving words
You spoke upon the cross
It is finished, it is finished
O, what else is there to say?
Shame is silenced, death defeated
Hallelujah, God be praised
No more condemnation
You had the final word
There’s nothing that can hold me
There’s nothing now to dread
Oh, I can hear those healing words
You cried upon the cross
Chorus twice
I hear a symphony of grace
Your song of mercy called my name
I stand in awe, I stand amazed
Hallelujah, God be praised
Repeat
Oh, God be praised
There’s no more condemnation
You had the final word
Yes You had the final word
Say
It is finished, it is finished (it is finished)
Oh, what else is there to say?
(All our shame is gone)
Shame is silenced, death defeated
(Death is all we can’t say)
Hallelujah (hallelujah), God be praised (oh)
It is finished, it is finished
Oh, what else is there to say?
Shame is silenced, death is defeated
So, hallelujah, God be praised
Shame is silenced, death defeated
Hallelujah, God be praised
Lyrics: Jennifer Martin
Remember this?