You Are Not Guilty!

Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]

Romans 8:1

The Amplified Bible has a wonderful way of writing the scriptures and calling out the hidden meanings within the original Greek text.  Often the original meaning and phrasing gets “lost in translation.”

This verse is one of those places where our English doesn’t pull out the full meaning of the original Greek text.  But if you look at it in the Amplified, then we can see the true richness of what the Holy Spirit meant when he showed this to Paul.

Starting with the first part, there is now no condemnation, no guilty verdict, no punishment for the believer.  There is absolutely none!  In the Greek, the word no condemnation is like a megaphone to say you will never ever ever be found guilty by the heavenly courts ever again!  There is absolutely nothing you can do, no wrong you can commit, that will ever separate you from God’s love.

You are free from any sin you have ever committed, or will ever commit.   God doesn't judge you!  I think we have a hard time believing those words, that God doesn't judge us today as believers.  Our conscience likes to condemn us when we commit a wrong.  The devil comes against us and tries to remind us of our wrong-doing, and even pastors are guilty of focusing on people's sin instead of on our sanctification.

1 Corinthians 6:11 says that we have been sanctified and justified.  Jesus' blood sanctifies us and justifies us and makes us worthy to come before the Lord.  His blood did it!  His blood also covers you and gives you the gift of no condemnation forever and ever. 

All you have to do today is believe it.  When the devil comes to steal this Word from your heart by condemning you for something you did in the past, don't let him.  Keep this verse in the forefront of your mind, remind yourself that you are free from condemnation because of Jesus Christ.  If he comes to attack you, look to Jesus!  This is how you renew your mind and keep yourself free from feeling guilt over something in your past.  Christ died to set you free from having a guilty conscious, honor His sacrifice by receiving it.

The second part of this verse is the clause for someone to know they aren’t condemned.  The only catch of not being found guilty in the court of heaven is to believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. That’s it!  And once you do, you will never ever be condemned, ever again.

If you have put your trust in Jesus, and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, then know that God is not angry with you.  We can read about His anger in the Old Testament.  However, did you realize that after Jesus died on the cross, God doesn't get angry with His people?  Anyone who has believed in Christ, Jew or Gentile, will never receive God's wrath ever again!  The only ones who will feel His anger, His justice, are those who do not put their trust in Him.  But for the rest of us, He tells us beautiful things like this:

• Come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
• Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. (3 John 1:2)
• For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)
• But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
• The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:19)
• When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. (Psalm 104:28)

You may not always feel God’s love.  You may not always have feel good feelings coursing through you, but this verse says that your feelings on this issue don’t matter.  The truth is you are not found guilty for any past sin or wrong.  No matter what.  So even when you don’t feel loved, even when you feel condemned or guilty, know today it is not God who condemns you.  Recognize the true author of those lies (the devil), and renew your mind.  His Word says there is now no condemnation for those who believe in Him.

Take Him at His Word.  When you feel attacked or condemned for a past wrong, come before the Lord and tell Him that you take Him at His Word.  Tell the Father that you know you are not guilty because His Word declares it.  And lay whatever guilt or condemnation you feel at His feet.

Sometimes our conscience reminds us of a past wrong we committed.  When something comes up over and over again in your mind, learn how to receive God's forgiveness, and also how to forgive yourself.  I wrote an article on this very topic because when we know we've done someone wrong, we often have a hard time forgiving ourselves for our past mistakes.  (Read Jesus Says You Are Forgiven!)

Today, know in your heart that you are blameless in God's sight.  Come to His throne and ask for whatever you need and He will hear you and answer you.  Ask, and keep on asking until He answers your request.  He hears you, and He will come to your rescue. (Read Knock And The Door Will Be Opened)

Keep these verses in the forefront of your mind and remind yourself over and over that you are not condemned.  Shed any guilt you feel over the past at the foot of the cross, and walk forward in complete freedom in Christ Jesus.