No condemnation now - so you can sin no more

[PeterJens]

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:1-2

Someone quoted a website that suggested the reason we sin is because we are condemned by the law.
So remove the law and condemnation and you will walk without sin.

Now in isolation this sounds theoretically sane. The idea is because we are restricted we rebel and test the boundary, and look for ways to break the law, because how dare we be limited.

But when you are in high rise building the barrier is there to stop you falling to your death. If you remove the barrier and you walk there you will fall to your death.

At the heart of the gospel there is "God loves you" but with conditions. He loves you because you can become a child of God rather than being a lost sinner. Now the power of sin is being unloved, abandoned, betrayed, giving up and lashing out because of pain, loneliness, hatred, bitterness.

So when you know you are loved, have let love flow from your heart, founded your life on being pure, you can walk in righteousness. With love you walk with the law of the Spirit, with streams of living water flowing from you.

Condemnation is no longer there because there is nothing to condemn, because you walk in love. The law is there, but it just confirms you walk with Jesus, not why. It is Jesus's love through the cross that empowers your every move.

Now in my life I have known this idea as impossible, a distant idea or horizon, but now it is here. Many have found this walk, but Jesus takes each step and helps us. But to know how and why matters, and to know you can with the Holy Spirit.

 

[DP]

Good positive outlook, but let's not deceive ourselves, because Apostle Paul showed how our spirit wars with our flesh, so that we don't always do what is expedient by The Spirit, and that will be so until the day of Christ's coming (Rom.7). That's what repentance to our Lord Jesus and Holy Communion with Him is to be about, to help us get back on track doing His Work after future slip ups we may fall into (1 John 1).

The occult pagans think they can attain to perfection while in this flesh. They cannot, that's just a lie they tell themselves. We all have been concluded under sin so that Salvation would be to those who believe on Jesus Christ Who was without sin. If we ourselves could be without sin in the flesh, then we would not need Him nor what He did for us on His cross. This is why we all fall short of the glory of God, even after having believed on Jesus Christ and been baptized.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

There is no condemnation in Christ because he has already been condemned. GOD's justice has been vindicated, his holiness honored, there remains only love. But stepping outside of Christ (obeying the flesh) puts one under the law of sin and death.

 

[valiant]

Good positive outlook, but let's not deceive ourselves, because Apostle Paul showed how our spirit wars with our flesh, so that we don't always do what is expedient by The Spirit, and that will be so until the day of Christ's coming (Rom.7). That's what repentance to our Lord Jesus and Holy Communion with Him is to be about, to help us get back on track doing His Work after future slip ups we may fall into (1 John 1).

The occult pagans think they can attain to perfection while in this flesh. They cannot, that's just a lie they tell themselves. We all have been concluded under sin so that Salvation would be to those who believe on Jesus Christ Who was without sin. If we ourselves could be without sin in the flesh, then we would not need Him nor what He did for us on His cross. This is why we all fall short of the glory of God, even after having believed on Jesus Christ and been baptized.

There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, 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 sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

When we are in Christ we are made free from the law of sin and death, for Christ died for our sins, taking our guilt upon Himself and condemning sin in the flesh. There is therefore, and never will be again, NO CONDEMNATION. We are free once and for all from the law of sin and death.

The consequence is that we walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. If we do not it (although sometimes falteringly) it is because we have never been His. When we are a new creation, all becomes new, for GOD SAVES. WE CANNOT step outside His love.

 

[PeterJens]

Good positive outlook, but let's not deceive ourselves

Thanks. I agree with you, it is easy to deceive yourself. The first lesson is not to trust yourself.

What I have noticed is the inside of people and how they are driven varies an enormous amount.
I listed a list of attitudes and approaches which I literally did none of them, but was surprised how many admitted they did all or many of them. So what I mean by purity was a vast distance from where many are.

Unless you take the objective or aim seriously, many are happy to give up and compromise, when in reality Jesus has set the prisoner free.

Life seriously screws us up inside, but Jesus can build a new person and make things new, not unravelling the mess but make new reactions, put things in place that should be and work righteousness and purity into a reality. The creator died to make us whole, not to leave us wreaks on the side of the road, limping along as if this is the best that can be.

 

[PilgrimPassingThru]

Heres a few verses

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye
through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

1 Cr 9:27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means,
when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Luke 9:25
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world,
and lose himself, or be cast away?

1 Ti 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Ti 2:11
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all

Ti 2:12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Gal 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, 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 sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

When we are in Christ we are made free from the law of sin and death, for Christ died for our sins, taking our guilt upon Himself and condemning sin in the flesh. There is therefore, and never will be again, NO CONDEMNATION. We are free once and for all from the law of sin and death.

The consequence is that we walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. If we do not it (although sometimes falteringly) it is because we have never been His. When we are a new creation, all becomes new, for GOD SAVES. WE CANNOT step outside His love.

We cannot step outside of his love for us (in other words, he loves us whether we walk in him or not), but we very definitely can step (walk) outside of his love (in other words, walk in darkness).

 

[PeterJens]

“Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matt 12:48-50


And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Matt 19:29

If we are real, the same on the inside and outside, we are loyal, real, able to be understood, to give and receive. You know where you are with these people. You are no more just a relative, or someone who may or may not do things.

So much of life is founded on trust and predictability and defending against the worst outcome. In Jesus there are no ultimate bad outcomes, it is about being real within this context. It is why this is the light, and not darkness, why this is life and freedom.

 

[PilgrimPassingThru]

Heres a few on abiding and just adding a couple to confirm HRFTD's post

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Ephes 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

1 John 2:9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now

1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness,
and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know
that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (& 1 John 4:20)

 

[Grace777x70]

All truly born-again Christians have the love of God in them...in their new creation in Christ. They just need to let the new life in Christ be expressed outwardly by beholding Christ.

In the scripture below " are being transformed" is in the passive voice which means as we keep our eyes on Jesus..the Spirit of the Lord causes the change in us. We don't do the changing..the Spirit does in us. It's a natural out-flow of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus being manifested.

When we seem Him we become like Him..as He is..so also are we in this world.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

We have the love of God in us - as we know the love that God has for us - this love will be reflected in our lives to others. We need to grow up in Christ.

1 John 5:18 (NASB)
[SUP]18 [/SUP] We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1 John 4:16 (NASB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Romans 5:5 (NASB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. "has been poured out" = in the perfect tense and it is passive = which means it is in a completed state within us now and will continue on and it is a passive action that happens to us

We just need to grow up in the grace and knowledge of Christ. The true believer is eternally safe because he belongs to Christ.

 

[Grace777x70]

This is a good view of our union with Christ ...you can also go to the website and read the comments below the article as I find the comments can answer some things as well..

Your Unbreakable Union with Christ – Escape to Reality

Your Unbreakable Union with Christ

January 7, 2016 by Paul Ellis 48 Comments

Some Christians understand their union with the Lord but only half way. “Sure, God is with us, but sometimes he isn’t. He comes and he goes.” It’s true that in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon certain people at certain times, but that was then and this is now.

Jesus said the Holy Spirit abides with us and makes his home with us (John 14:16–17). By home he means home. You are not a motel room for the Lord. You are a walking, talking, living, breathing temple of the Holy Spirit. He is not going anywhere.
“Are you saying that the Holy Spirit is with me even when I sin?” Yes! Christ’s love for you and his union with you is stronger than any sin.

Under the old covenant, sinning was your fast track to disunion. If you sinned you risked being cut off from the people of God.
Jesus said if your hand or eye causes you to sin, get rid of it (Matthew 5:29–30). Why did Jesus preach self-amputation to those born under the law? Because under that covenant it made sense to talk about removing those parts of the body that might contaminate the whole.

Thank the Lord the old covenant is gone! We are not under law but grace, and this is good news for the members of the body of Christ.

When we sin, Jesus does not cut us off; we remain members of his body. This totally changes the way we look at sin.

Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! (1 Corinthians 6:15b)

Under the old covenant we were restrained from sin through mortal terror but in the new we are restrained by love. Look again at Paul’s warning about prostitutes. Behind the warning—don’t do it—there is a surprising and reassuring affirmation of union. Paul is saying it is possible, though not advisable, to unite the members of Christ’s body with prostitutes.

Do you see it? Earthly marriages may break and fail, but your union with Christ is unbreakable. Sin cannot break it. Addiction cannot break it. The stupidest decisions you might ever make cannot break it.

This should not be taken as a challenge to see what you can get away with but as a stunning declaration of Christ’s absolute commitment to love you and stick with you no matter what. This is what changes us—not the weak influence of the rule, but the relentless and determined passion of his love.

The love of God is the greatest force in the universe. Sin wilts before it. When you encounter the undaunted and unending love of Christ, it changes you. You no longer want to sin. The passing pleasures of this world lose their appeal because you have found a love that is truer and better by far.

 

[Grace777x70]

Here is a great grace-based view of "abiding in the vine"....What does it mean?

John 15:6 – Abiding in the Vine – Escape to Reality

And here is one about the unfruitful branches...again the comments on the bottom of the articles are great as well as they ask questions...

What Happens to Unfruitful Branches? – Escape to Reality

 

[FreeNChrist]

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:1-2

Someone quoted a website that suggested the reason we sin is because we are condemned by the law.
So remove the law and condemnation and you will walk without sin.

Now in isolation this sounds theoretically sane. The idea is because we are restricted we rebel and test the boundary, and look for ways to break the law, because how dare we be limited.

But when you are in high rise building the barrier is there to stop you falling to your death. If you remove the barrier and you walk there you will fall to your death.

At the heart of the gospel there is "God loves you" but with conditions. He loves you because you can become a child of God rather than being a lost sinner. Now the power of sin is being unloved, abandoned, betrayed, giving up and lashing out because of pain, loneliness, hatred, bitterness.

So when you know you are loved, have let love flow from your heart, founded your life on being pure, you can walk in righteousness. With love you walk with the law of the Spirit, with streams of living water flowing from you.

Condemnation is no longer there because there is nothing to condemn, because you walk in love. The law is there, but it just confirms you walk with Jesus, not why. It is Jesus's love through the cross that empowers your every move.

Now in my life I have known this idea as impossible, a distant idea or horizon, but now it is here. Many have found this walk, but Jesus takes each step and helps us. But to know how and why matters, and to know you can with the Holy Spirit.

God's love is not conditional.

 

[phil112]

................................Now in my life I have known this idea as impossible, a distant idea or horizon, but now it is here. Many have found this walk, but Jesus takes each step and helps us. But to know how and why matters, and to know you can with the Holy Spirit.

You're close on what you're saying, whether that is what you're trying to say, I'm not sure.
We are all in different places in our spiritual walk. Going to heaven thru salvation is a road for us, and we are all in different places on that journey.
But you are correct in saying many have done it. We can live as Christ commands us, and He said "go and sin no more".
Just because one person is having trouble doing it doesn't mean it can't be done. Christ never told us to do something that was impossible.

 

[phil112]

God's love is not conditional.

No, but His reward is. You must obey to be rewarded.
Never confuse unconditional love with unconditional acceptance. He has one, but not both, for us.

 

[FreeNChrist]

No, but His reward is. You must obey to be rewarded.

sigh*. The OP claims God's love is conditional, it's not, that is relevant. Rewards are not.

 

[Budman]

Whenever someone says something akin to; "Yes, salvation is a free gift of God, but....."


You know you're in trouble.

 

[FreeNChrist]

You're close on what you're saying, whether that is what you're trying to say, I'm not sure.
We are all in different places in our spiritual walk. Going to heaven thru salvation is a road for us, and we are all in different places on that journey.
But you are correct in saying many have done it. We can live as Christ commands us, and He said "go and sin no more".
Just because one person is having trouble doing it doesn't mean it can't be done. Christ never told us to do something that was impossible.

If the standard for entry into Heaven is sinless perfection, then we all have one hope and one hope alone….Jesus Christ, the Sinless One.

 

[Budman]

"If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:14-15)

'nuff said.

 

[Grace777x70]

There are 2 aspects to grace.

The very first thing our Lord does is deal with the religious people that are condemning the woman caught in adultery and gets rid of them so that He can deal with the woman Himself. Hear Jesus only is always a good thing.

1) acceptance grace - which has nothing to do with our behavior - as seen with the woman caught in adultery. Our Lord beautifully says " I do not condemn you".

It is in knowing you are not condemned that releases the other aspect of grace.

2) now, go and sin no more - this is empowering grace. Empowering grace enables you to be who the Father sees you are in Christ now.


The religious mindset says to the woman caught in adultery - 'Do not sin and we will not condemn you." The grace of God and the blood of Jesus speaks of better things!

Knowing that we are not condemned in Christ "releases" the life of the empowering grace to transform us. It's all about Christ! It's His fruit being manifested in us!

Acceptance grace which is not based on our behavior needs to be cemented in our hearts before empowering grace is able to be manifested.


What believers in a self-effort/self-performance D.I.Y. holiness/righteousness based gospel have a very hard time with is the "acceptance grace" part...this just drives them nuts...and I understand why..it is scandalous!