Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 13.1-2 [NASB]
We come to a Lord most gracious and loving, yet we live as if He does not extend that grace and mercy in the midst of our lives. We live as if we are still under judgment, still condemned. We strive for purity, holiness and the spiritual depths. We long for a deeper prayer life, greater understanding of scripture and a life overflowing with the love of God. We are compelled to work for God, pursue the Son and embrace the Spirit. We strive but never attain, we burn out, and faith begins to wither.
The Gospel has been proclaimed that is eternal in nature. The Gospel is a person, a man, Jesus, who is the Christ. In Him, we see the love of God made manifest. In Him is light and life. Salvation is in Him, in His cross, death and resurrection. The faith we receive is in Him. Yet we are compelled to do that which Christ has done. These are burdens we are not meant to bear. A well meaning but damnable religion places burdens that no person can bear.
The Good News is you and I no longer face condemnation. The eternal love of God has made a way for us live. That way is Christ. That life is Christ’s. Only in Christ is this way of living possible. Sin and death no longer hold us in bondage. Though we may stumble and fall, we are saints in Christ Jesus. Though one day this earthly life will end, we find resurrection in Jesus Christ.
Nietzsche was right in saying, “…there was only one christian, and he died on the cross.” The point he misses is that for those who turn to this crucified one, we can participate in that. We have the honor of living by the life of God. We don’t have to, we get to. This is the difference between the yoke of the Pharisees and the yoke of Christ. Life under bondage to rules, regulations and guilt or life shared on the life, love and grace of the Living God.
