Walking above Condemnation

Until the 13th century, our Bible was not divided into chapters and verses because the scriptures were not written that way. It was Archbishop Stephen Langton and Cardinal Hugo de Sancto Caro that developed different schemas for a systematic division of the Bible in the early 13th century. It is the system of Archbishop Langton that formed the framework on which the modern chapter divisions are based. The first Bible in English to use both chapters and verses was the Geneva Bible published in the year 1560. Till today, the best way to study scripture is not by isolating verses and reading them alone, it is by reading entire sections of scripture to get the main message. I would suggest that in order for a believer to properly understand Romans 8:1, he at least reads Romans 8:1-13 so he can get the thought of Romans 8:1 in the right context.

Have you seen certain believers walking in rebellion and saying ‘there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?’, it is because they have not read that verse in context, or they have suffered from exposure to false teachers who teach licentiousness. We can see from today’s Bible verses that the reason there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus is that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. A person still walking under the dominion and law of sin would still walk under condemnation, and that is an act of mercy because if a believer feels no condemnation concerning willful sin, he would soon become spiritually dead without knowing it (see Romans 8:13). Lepers lose their limbs because they first lose the ability to feel pain in their limbs. The ability to feel pain is a protective measure from more danger to the body. The conscience is a protective measure for the spirit of man.

The law of sin and death operates in the ambiance of perpetual condemnation, but the law of the spirit of life on in Christ Jesus operates in an ambiance of justification. In order for a believer to walk in the law of the spirit of life (which is the only law/power that can make him free from the dominion/law of sin and death), he must understand that in Christ, he has been justified before God and declared righteous. He has been washed white and clean and has been given a new slate. He is now expected to walk in the newness of mind in accordance with the new life he has received (see Ephesians 4:22-24).

Go into today remembering that in Christ, there is freedom from the law of sin and death because the law of the spirit of life is at work within us. If by any chance you dirty your garment, don’t waste time getting it cleaned by repenting and forsaking that defiling sin. And then move on in justification–just as if you have never sinned.

Prayer: Lord, help me walk above the condemnation of the flesh and live a life ruled by the Spirit, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
—Abraham Damilola Arigi

Bible in 1 Year: Ephesians 4-6 (in today’s audio)