"Then said he unto me,
Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart
to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were
heard" Daniel 10:12
The above verse is precious for those of us who sometimes are overzealous to please God in our own strength, and then fall under condemnation when we fail. It reminds us that God was "for" us way before we were ever "for" Him (cf Romans 5:8). Why do we so often fall under the condemnation of Paul's "wretched man" of Romans 7:24?
The chapter of Romans 7 confuses some, who think that it was either about Paul before becoming a Christian, or that he was overcome by sin on a daily basis. In reality it is a continuation of Romans chapter 6, which deals with freedom from sin, but it is freedom from the law. Paul is relating his post-conversion experience of abject failure at trying to keep God's holy law in his own strength.
This may seem foolish or counter-intuitive to some, but sometimes when we get the urge to do something for God, we may be in danger of falling from our heavenly "position" in Christ (Ephesians 2:6). This is where Satan loves to trap those who have consecrated their lives to the Lord and are picking up His cross daily and following Him (Luke 9:23). If Satan cannot cause a victorious Christian to outright sin, he will try to convince that person that they are not doing enough for God and need to do something immediately!* The person, laden by guilt, carries out the task, it fails, and falls under greater condemnation. If he or she does not discern their error, they may wonder "what's the use?", fall into despair, and engage in sins previously conquered. If the cycle continues they may even doubt their own salvation. Thus Satan's plan of reversing the progress of God's plan of salvation shown in Romans 5 through 8 is complete.
So how do we get victory over condemnation? Paul gives the answer after his "bottoming out"experience: "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?** I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 7:24-25). The answer is simply Jesus our Deliverer.
Romans 8:1 goes on to declare "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (my emphasis). Period. End of story. If you are in Christ, and Christ is in you, then there is no ground for condemnation. The blood of Jesus has cleansed you from past sins, and the cross has forever crucified your sinful nature (Romans 6:6). You do not need to follow the law in your own strength (the body of death), but you are set free by a new law, the Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2). You can now perform good works Christ has prepared for you (Ephesians 2:10), because you are attached to the Vine , and He produces fruit through you (John 15:4), and no longer demands it of you.
Let us praise God for the precious gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.
* This incidentally is an easy test to distinguish the Holy Spirit from an evil spirit: the Holy Spirit is gentle and neither drives nor pushes
** It is called "the body of death" because death is weakness to the most extreme
This may seem foolish or counter-intuitive to some, but sometimes when we get the urge to do something for God, we may be in danger of falling from our heavenly "position" in Christ (Ephesians 2:6). This is where Satan loves to trap those who have consecrated their lives to the Lord and are picking up His cross daily and following Him (Luke 9:23). If Satan cannot cause a victorious Christian to outright sin, he will try to convince that person that they are not doing enough for God and need to do something immediately!* The person, laden by guilt, carries out the task, it fails, and falls under greater condemnation. If he or she does not discern their error, they may wonder "what's the use?", fall into despair, and engage in sins previously conquered. If the cycle continues they may even doubt their own salvation. Thus Satan's plan of reversing the progress of God's plan of salvation shown in Romans 5 through 8 is complete.
So how do we get victory over condemnation? Paul gives the answer after his "bottoming out"experience: "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?** I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 7:24-25). The answer is simply Jesus our Deliverer.
Romans 8:1 goes on to declare "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (my emphasis). Period. End of story. If you are in Christ, and Christ is in you, then there is no ground for condemnation. The blood of Jesus has cleansed you from past sins, and the cross has forever crucified your sinful nature (Romans 6:6). You do not need to follow the law in your own strength (the body of death), but you are set free by a new law, the Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2). You can now perform good works Christ has prepared for you (Ephesians 2:10), because you are attached to the Vine , and He produces fruit through you (John 15:4), and no longer demands it of you.
Let us praise God for the precious gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.
* This incidentally is an easy test to distinguish the Holy Spirit from an evil spirit: the Holy Spirit is gentle and neither drives nor pushes
** It is called "the body of death" because death is weakness to the most extreme
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