From the beginning years of the New Testament Church there have been those who simply could not wrap their minds around the GRACE of God! They were always trying to add some sort of rules and laws to govern believers. Paul spoke of it in Galatians 1:8-9:
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Some were trying to make the Gentile believers become as Jews (circumcision, keeping feasts, etc.) in order to be long to their number. The God of the Bible gave THIS as the ONLY qualifying decision to become a member of the Church: be born again! John 3:3:3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
How does one become 'born again'? Romans 10:9-10:
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
1 John 5:11-12 tells us this:
11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we DO this, we become a new creation that never existed before! Our previously dead human spirits, lost in sin, are recreated instantly by Holy Spirit into a brand new spirit being, in the image of God!
17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! AMP
We have covered all of this today so that we can look clearly at today's Bible Plan reading in Romans 8. Verse 1-2 say this:
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. KJV
SOMEONE, during the translation of this book, decided that the gospel needed to be explained in a way that THEY thought was clearer! What does this verse ACTUALLY say? When we take out all of the added words, those not actually IN the Greek text, we see that it says THIS:
8 Therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. KJV
The ONLY qualification for not receiving condemnation from the God of the Bible is to be IN Christ Jesus! THAT means to be born again! If you have received Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior, then you are IN Christ Jesus! Yes, we SHOULD walk after the Spirit rather than our flesh nature, which we will still have UNTIL we see Him face to face, but there is NO condemnation for a born again believer because the Blood of Jesus was, and always will be, ENOUGH! When we stand enter into HEaven, the only qualification is what we have done with JESUS! When we stand before the reward seat, everything we have done, if done in obedience and with right motives, will be rewarded. Everything not done in obedience, or done for wrong motives and reasons, will be burnt up by fire. We will be rewarded for whatever survives the fire of God! We will NOT be judged for anything! SO, refuse to allow the 'other gospel' of those who would bring condemnation on those who make mistakes to hold you back from the wonderful, powerful GIFT of GRACE, MERCY, LOVE and FORGIVENESS that comes directly from the heart of our Father! HIS love is never ending and unconditional for members of HIS family! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Grace To Grace":
Shalom in Him!
