Your New Identity (Victory Series Book #2): A Transforming Union with God (12 page)

Romans 8:1–8

Key Point

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Key Verse

Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:2

G
uilt is a judicial concept in a court of law presided over by a judge. In order to establish guilt or innocence, there has to be a law or moral standard. People are deemed guilty when they fail to live up to a moral standard or when they break the law. In the book of Romans, Paul argues our case for a “not guilty” verdict in the heavenly court where God is the presiding judge.

Paul starts by admitting that “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(3:23). That is not the defense we were hoping for, but he isn’t finished! “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ” (3:24). Did God do away with the law or water it down so all would qualify on their own merit? A righteous judge couldn’t do that, because justice must be served. So, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received in faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness” (3:25).

This infuriates the prosecutor, who accuses those who have sinned day and night (see Revelation 12:10). “Jesus couldn’t have paid it all,” whispers the evil one. He demands the judge make them earn their way. Paul argues back, “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:4–5). “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1).

Paul then turns to the accused and says, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11).
I would like to
do that
, says the doubter,
but sin is still
all around me
,
and believing Christians are still dying
. Paul explains that death is the end of a relationship but not of existence. Besides, “sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (6:14). Under the law Satan had a standard by which he could accuse the person, but under grace he doesn’t. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (8:1–2).

Paul used the word “law” in reference to sin and death to make a powerful point. You can’t do away with a law, so how can justified Christians overcome such laws? They overcome the law of sin and the law of death by a greater law, which is the law of life in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever tried to fly? You can’t, because there is no power within you to overcome the law of gravity. However, we can “fly” in an airplane, which has the power to overcome the law of gravity. As long as we live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh (see Galatians 5:16).

“Not guilty,” says the judge. Court adjourned.

Apart from Christ, why are we all guilty before God?

Why did justice have to be served?

How does one overcome the law of sin and the law of death?

How can you stand against the devil’s accusations?

What power does sin and death have over you?

Paul holds out security for us by the grace of God, so that we should not be tempted by the suggestions of the devil. . . . We shall instead be rewarded if we repel the counsels of that sin which remains in us, for it demands great skill to avoid the tricks of the enemy. “The law of the Spirit of life” is the law of faith. For even the Law of Moses is spiritual in that it forbids us to sin, but it is not the law of life. It has no power to pardon those who are guilty of the sins which merit death and thus to bring them back to life. . . . Therefore it is the law in Christ Jesus, this is to say, through faith in Christ, which frees the believer from the law of sin and death.

Ambrosiaster (written c. AD 366–384)

Micah 7:7–10

Key Point

True believers are motivated by the love of God and not by guilt and shame.

Key Verse

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 10:12

C
hristians are forgiven but not perfect. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and assumed responsibility for their eternal consequences. As a result, the Lord will not condemn us and will remember our sins no more. However, we have to live with the temporal consequences of our attitudes and actions. If God had eradicated all the temporal consequences of sin, there would be no motivation to stop sinning. We would party on weekends, confess our sins on Sunday, and falsely believe that our actions have no negative consequences.

Suppose you have been consuming alcohol for years and have become chemically addicted. At first you were able to cover up your indiscretions,
but now your sinful lifestyle has been exposed. Your job performance is substandard, you have embarrassed yourself publicly, your spouse has left, and your health is deteriorating. Finally, you throw yourself upon God’s mercy. He forgives you and makes you a new creation in Christ. However, alcohol has taken its toll on your body. Your job is over, your spouse is gone, and you find that society is less forgiving than God. Still, you are able to find a successful recovery ministry that helps the fallen seek God’s forgiveness, ask the forgiveness of others, repair what they can, and build a new life in Christ. The grace of God eventually overcomes your shame.

This was the case for Micah, who spoke to the sinful conditions of Israel and Judah. He looked forward to God’s redemption—the coming of the Savior (see Micah 7:7)—even though he lived under the Mosaic Law. At the time, the Israelites’ enemy was gloating over these “chosen people” who had sinned and incurred the judgment of God. Their enemy was taunting them, asking, “Where is the L
ORD
your God?” (verse 10). Micah responds, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the L
ORD
will be my light” (verse 8). The shame the Israelites felt because of their sin caused them to hide and cover up, but the Lord always leads His people into the light. When they faced the truth and turned to God, their enemy was covered with shame, and its downfall was certain (see verse 10).

Many cultures of this world are shame-based. They punish sinners by shaming them publicly. They make the point that something is wrong with them. Other cultures are guilt-based. They punish sinners because they have done something wrong. The kingdom of God is grace-based. There was something wrong with us, but now we are new creations in Christ. We sinned and fell short of the glory of God, but Christ died for our sins. Now we can live righteous lives as children of God. We are what we are by the grace of God. We can still choose to sin, and our loving heavenly Father will discipline us, but that just proves that we are His children (see Hebrews 12:8).

As children of God, we are not motivated by guilt and shame. Piling on guilt and shame is detrimental to our mental health and doesn’t promote righteous living. We are motivated by the love of God. We don’t condemn
others when they sin; we discipline them for their good. The Christian ministry is one of reconciliation, not condemnation. We don’t shame one another; we build up one another.

What would happen to Christians and our culture if people never had to suffer temporal consequences for their sinful or irresponsible choices?

How can Christians overcome a sense of guilt and shame?

How is the kingdom of God grace-based instead of shame-based or guilt-based? What should be our motivations as new creations in Christ?

How have you allowed the shame of your past to keep you from moving forward in God’s will? What steps will you take to change this pattern?

How has God disciplined you for sinful behavior? Did you see His discipline as proof of His love for you as His child? Explain.

In truth, tribulations are, for those well prepared, like certain foods and exercises for athletes which lead the contestants on to glory, if, when reviled, we bless; if when maligned, we entreat; if ill-treated, we give thanks; if afflicted, we glory in our afflictions. It is indeed shameful for us to bless on propitious occasions but be silent on the dark and difficult ones. On the contrary, we must bless even more at that time, knowing that “The Lord disciplines him whom He loves and chastises every son who He receives.”

Basil the Great (AD 330–379)

2 Corinthians 7:2–12

Key Point

Godly sorrow through the conviction of sin leads to repentance without regret and to freedom in Christ.

Key Verse

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

P
aul makes a distinction between godly sorrow for our sins and worldly sorrow in 2 Corinthians 7:9–11. Worldly sorrow can be due to a faulty conscience, the guilt trips we put on one another, or the accusations of the devil. We may feel guilty due to worldly sorrow, but that cannot change the fact that we are forgiven before God.

We all feel guilty when we violate our conscience. Our conscience is a function of our mind and will always be true to itself, but not necessarily to God. Our conscience was formed before we came to Christ as we assimilated
values from our home, school, and social environments. Observing role models and learning right from wrong from others shaped our conscience, but human resources and role models are not infallible. When we come to Christ, our conscience changes as we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. Letting our conscience be our guide is not the same as letting the Holy Spirit be our guide.

Nonbelievers come under the conviction of sin and turn to Christ. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Should we sin as born-again believers, we will also have a sense of sorrow for what we have done. That is the convicting (not condemning) work of the Holy Spirit.

Worldly sorrow may feel the same as godly sorrow, but the end results are radically different. Many people are sorry they got caught sinning, but such sorrow seldom leads to repentance. Others may feel sorry for their sins and have an emotional catharsis and confess their sins to others. However, if there is no genuine repentance, they may regret this action later. Godly sorrow leads to repentance without regret. People don’t regret finding their freedom in Christ through genuine repentance. They are thankful for their newfound freedom and sense no shame.

In a moment of crisis, Peter denied Christ three times (see Luke 22:60). However, he came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, repented, and became the first spokesperson for the Early Church (see Luke 22:61–62; Acts 2:14–41). Judas also betrayed Jesus but succumbed to the sorrow of the world and hung himself (see Matthew 27:1–5). His actions did not demonstrate God-centered sorrow over the wickedness of sin that leads to death, but a self-centered sorrow over the temporal consequences of sin that had negatively affected him.

If you have been honest with God and yet struggle with condemning thoughts, rest assured that it is not God convicting you of sin. You first should consider by what standard you are evaluating your actions. Feeling guilty because you didn’t carry on some family tradition is due to a faulty conscience. You also could be paying attention to a deceiving spirit. Paul wrote, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such
teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1–2).

On Good Friday, one thief hung on a cross by Jesus and experienced the sorrow of the world and died, but the other “became sorrowful as God intended” (2 Corinthians 7:9) and joined Jesus in paradise (see Luke 23:40–43).

What is the distinction between godly sorrow for our sins and worldly sorrow?

What is the function of our conscience before we come to Christ? How does that change after we come to Christ?

Why are there no regrets after genuine repentance?

In what ways do you struggle with a guilty conscience?

Have you ever felt the conviction of sin and failed to repent? How did that work for you in the long run?

Paul was regretful before he saw the fruit of repentance, but afterward rejoiced. This is the nature of godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow, in contrast to this, is regret for the loss of money, reputation, and friends. That kind of sorrow merely leads to greater harm, because the regret is often a prelude to revenge. Only sorrow for sin is really profitable.

John Chrysostom (AD 347–407)