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Oilfield Workers Sharing Christ Around the World

46th MOST REFERENCED VERSE ON THE INTERNET*

Mike Chaffin

   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.) Romans 8:1

          How many times do we hear the demand to not judge others.  That is somewhat true.  Jesus said our judgement of others would be the measure by how we are judged.  However, judgement is not ruled out when it comes to actions.  We are to judge what is good and what is evil.  We can condemn the action while loving the person. 

          When we live in the Spirit of Christ, we will not face judgement, we will not be condemned. That is the good news of the gospel.  Rest assured you will be accused of being a vile sinner by the devil but if your clothed with the righteousness of Jesus the accusation is nullified. 

          While some people want to interpret this verse as a universal get out of jail free card, it is not.  There is a modifier to the promise.  We are to live in the Holy Spirit, pursuing godliness and righteousness, not live a fleshly life. Paul writes just a few verses later,

          Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8

               Further, when we chose to make Christ our Savior, we must also make Him our Lord.  Only through this decision are we able to live in the Spirit, dying to flesh, living a life with the peace of knowing your destiny is in Heaven.

                 To live for Christ, we must make a declaration as outlined in Romans 10:9-11

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:9-11

               Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  However, for those who live according to the flesh, who deny Christ is the only way to Heaven, the Bible is clear, in John 3:17, and in Thessalonians,

               And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

               The choice is ours to make.  We can live in the Spirit, enjoying the peace and joy of a righteous life, or we can choose to live in the flesh and die condemned.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.  Call on God.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I thank you that you died on the cross and rose again so that I may live in the Spirit.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit, refresh and renew me each day.  Help me to walk in your light, and not in the shadow of death.  In Jesus’ name, amen. 

* There is a website that conducted a search for Bible verses.  They compiled a list of the verses in order of the magnitude of hits they got in their search.  Some of these verses probably qualify as ‘people’s favorites’, while others might be on the list because they are some of the most important and most teachable words of God.

 

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