Read çľ… Romans 5:1 through 8:39
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
(Romans 8:1).
Laura had Romans 8:1 taped everywhere around her house. Although a Christian since childhood, she struggled with a legalistic upbringing that taught her she had to earn any forgiveness she got. Now an adult, she worried that she could never do enough good to outweigh the bad.
Then one night, Laura was reading Romans, a book she usually avoided as too confusing. But reading several chapters straight through, she felt the Holy Spirit making it clear to her that salvation cannot be earned by good works—rather, salvation makes good works possible. Now Laura’s favorite verse began to make sense. For the first time, her self-condemnation eased.
Laura’s new outlook took some time to take root, but she no longer felt as if she were trying to dig herself out of a hole. She enjoyed doing good out of gratitude, not obligation. There really was no condemnation.
PRAYER SUGGESTION:
Holy Spirit, help me understand God’s forgiveness so I can be as free from guilt as I am from the sin that caused it.