There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. - Romans 8:1 KJV
That is a powerful declaration for each and everyone one of us today. The Apostle Paul definitively states that we are not guilty when we are in Christ Jesus. Paul continues by saying that, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8:2 KJV
I am very thankful to be free in the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus today. But how did I get here: how did I come to this place of freedom? I submitted myself to the judgment of God. I saw my Father’s judgment not as a condemnation to eternal failure and criticism, but received it as a conviction to change the path of my life. To surrender my shortcomings, failures, weaknesses, and sins. I believed in the power of Christ Jesus. I had faith that His way, The Way, was a better way.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. - Romans 4:5 KJV
How many of us are genuinely concerned about the Judgement of God? I know for most of my life the very word, the concept of God judging my life terrified me. The Creator of Heaven and Earth looking down on me and seeing everything I’ve ever done. The things I lied about. The way I cheated and hurt people. The thoughts and intentions I had meditated on. I, on my own, am not a good person. I believe though. I have faith that Jesus of Nazareth was (is) the Son of God. He came to earth to take the death that I deserve, receiving the judgment of my life on the cross. My faith has accounted me the grace of God and His righteousness.
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 5:18-21 KJV
What if we saw judgment from the perspective of God? Judgement is not the process of condemnation, but the life-transforming process through means of conviction and repentance. God is righteously looking into our life based on our ability, rather inability, to live under the law and is saying, “I’m offering you a better life, a better way.” God’s judgment is not an opportunity for an apology, but true repentance. It’s not about saying sorry for your sins that lead to death, but walking away from them and replacing them with life; not just life but abundant life. How different would our world be if we welcomed the judgment of God and didn’t fear it? Would we see racial reconciliation? Would we see social and economic injustices addressed? Would our families, churches, and communities thrive and have something worth sharing?
Here’s to believing in a better world, a world where Heaven and Earth become one through God’s Judgment,
Pastor Joshua Ogle