2023_02_03 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading- Psalm 51, Romans 8, 2 Peter 3
“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.” Romans 8:1-2
Reading Romans 8 this week, I was reminded of the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Jesus was teaching outside the temple when some Pharisees brought the woman to him. The Pharisees intended to trap Jesus and asked what they should do to her. Under the law of Moses, the woman should have been stoned as a punishment for her sin, but Jesus showed them another way.
He tells them, “let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.” John 8:7b.
The Pharisees gradually walk away, realizing their duplicity.
“Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11
The Pharisees were outraged at Jesus’ ability to forgive sin because they did not know or want to believe that He was the Messiah. Romans 8:1-2 explains why Jesus can forgive sin and override the law of Moses. We are in Christ Jesus. If we are in Christ and Christ is in God, there is no condemnation. God looks at Jesus and does not condemn Him, so God will not condemn us either.
Romans 8 finishes by stating that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 38-39.
I hope these truths dispel any fears you have regarding your own forgiveness. Letting go of shame and guilt by bathing in God’s truth removes the barriers that sin creates.
Thanks be to God for His unchanging, unconditional love for us.
Prayer
Morning Offering – Author Unknown
Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands to do your work.
I give you my feet to follow your path.
I give you my eyes to see as you see.
I give you my ears to hear as you hear.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind so you can think in me.
I give you my spirit so you can pray in me.
Above all I give you my heart so in me you can love all people.
I give you my whole self so you can grow in me,
till it is you who live and work, love and pray in me.
Amen
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead