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Together in Christ: 'No Condemnation!' — Romans 8:1-2 Sunday, October 13, 2024 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. — Romans 8:1-2 NLT Key Thought... When we shared with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection in baptism, God raised us to a new life because we "trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead." [1] Jesus' righteousness became our righteousness. [2] Jesus now presents us to the Father as "holy and blameless as [we] stand before him without a single fault." [3] Because we are united with Jesus, Paul can say we "belong to Christ Jesus." There is no condemnation for us as we live in union with Jesus. There is NO condemnation: zip, zero, nada, NONE! Hallelujah! We have even more good news. The Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead is at work in our mortal bodies. [4] They become holy temples where God dwells through the Holy Spirit! [5] Our fleshly desires, or our "sinful nature," [6] is mortal, bound to decay, vulnerable and prone to temptation and sin. But inside of us, because we belong to Christ, the Spirit is at work to free us and lead us to become like Jesus. [7] Death can't hold us. Satan can't have us. We are joined with Jesus, and glory awaits us! So, dear friend in Jesus, draw close to Jesus each day. Listen to His words from Scripture. Ask for the Holy Spirit, our anointing from the Lord Jesus himself, to help us know the truth and experience the presence of Jesus. [8] Just as we grow our relationships with people by spending time with them, the same is true with Jesus and His abiding presence in us through the Holy Spirit! [9] [1] Colossians 2:12. [2] 2 Corinthians 5:21. [3] Colossians 1:22. [4] Romans 8:11. [5] 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. [6] Romans 7:18, 8:3. [7] 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. [8] 1 John 2:20, 27. [9] John 14:15-23. Today's Prayer Father, please hear our prayer using the words of Paul. [A] We are forever grateful that You, the extraordinary and eternal God, chose to know us, care for us, and have a purpose for us from the moment we were conceived. We are dumbstruck with Your glory and grace. Please accept our thanks and praise:

Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!For who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

[A] Our prayer of praise comes from the apostle Paul and is from Romans 11:33-36.

Psalm 139:13-16 NIV.

Related Scripture Readings

Colossians 1:19-23

2 Corinthians 3:1-18