Saturday, July 11, 2015

our standing in Christ Jesus...

artwork by Lena Zieber

This beautiful work of art by Lena Zieber inspired me as I listened repeatedly to Bethel Music’s new hymn, Fall Afresh…Spirit of the living God come fall afresh on me, come wake me from my sleep, blow through the caverns of my soul, pour in me to overflow…this hymn changes the atmosphere, reminding me of the Truth contained in Romans Chapter Eight...scripture passages I wrap around my heart, like the Loving Arms of my Savior Jesus Christ...I remember a Bible study my Daddy taught once on Romans 8, where he had us repeat several times at the beginning of each session these opening words...There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...

Romans Chapter Eight is uniquely the chapter of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mentioned in Romans 8 no less than 19 different times. No other chapter in the New Testament contains as many direct references to the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 is also the chapter of Christian assurance. As theologian Frédéric Louis Godet said, Romans 8 begins with "no condemnation" and ends with "no separation”…which draws me to a word study of the word, condemnation

Romans 8:1-3...


Amplified Bible:
Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice].

NLT: 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. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

Phillips: No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ. For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death. The Law never succeeded in producing righteousness—the failure was always the weakness of human nature. But God has met this by sending his own Son Jesus Christ to live in that human nature which causes the trouble. And, while Christ was actually taking upon himself the sins of men, God condemned that sinful nature. So that we are able to meet the Law’s requirements, so long as we are living no longer by the dictates of our sinful nature, but in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit.


Wuest:
  Therefore, now, there is not even one bit of condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, that of the life in Christ Jesus, freed you once for all from the law of the sinful nature and of death. For that which is an impossibility for the law, because it was weak through the sinful nature, God having sent His Son in likeness of flesh of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the sinful nature, in order that the righteous requirement of the law may be brought to completion in us who, not as dominated by the sinful nature are ordering our behavior but as dominated by the Spirit.


Young’s Literal:
There is, then, now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; for the law of the Spirit of the life in Christ Jesus did set me free from the law of the sin and of the death; for what the law was not able to do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, His own Son having sent in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, did condemn the sin in the flesh.


Condemnation from the Greek word katakrima. It comes from katá which means against or down, and krino, which means to separate from which the idea of discriminate, distinguish, and then to judge or pronounce sentence against. This word appears only in the book of Romans. The idea literally is of judgment coming down on someone. The Apostle Paul says God’s judgment is not going to come down upon us as believers, not now, not ever! Those in Christ are not condemned, because Christ was condemned in our stead. There is no punishment for us, because Christ bore our punishment. The word condemnation may also be translated judgment. There is no judgment for those who are in Christ because sin has already been judged in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus.

Katakrima
means to judge someone as definitely guilty and thus subject to punishment, which accounts for the literal translation of "adverse judgment and resultant punishment." It is a legal technical term for the result of judging, including both the sentence and the execution or the sentence followed by a suggested punishment (The suffix -ma makes it the result of judgment). Katakrima is always an adverse verdict. Stated another way, katakrima (condemnation) relates to the sentencing for a crime, but its primary focus is not so much on the verdict as on the penalty that the verdict demands.

Pastor F. B. Meyer
explains katakrima this way, “Our standing in Christ is present: "Now." If we are in Christ, we need not wait in doubts and fears for the verdict of the Great White Throne. Its decisions cannot make our standing more clear, or our acceptance more sure. We can never be more free from the condemnation of God's righteous law than we are at this present. There are some who live on a sliding scale between condemnation and acceptance. If health is buoyant and the heart is full of song, they are sure of their acceptance with God; but if the sun is darkened and the clouds return; when the heart is dull and sad, they imagine that they are under the ban of God's displeasure. They forget that our standing in Christ Jesus is one thing; our appreciation and enjoyment of it quite another. Your own heart may condemn you; memory, the recorder of the soul, may summon from the past evidence against you; the great Accuser of souls may lay against you grievous and well-founded charges; your tides of feeling may ebb far down the beach; your faith may become weak and lose its power and grip; your sense of unworthiness may become increasingly oppressive--none of these things can touch your acceptance with God if you are in Christ Jesus.”

During a recent hurricane
in the Gulf of Mexico, a news report highlighted a rescue device used on the oil rigs. In case of fire or hurricane, rig workers scramble into the bullet-shaped “bus” and strap themselves into their seats. When the entry port is shut, the vehicle is released down a chute and projected away from the rig. The seat belts protect the occupants from the impact with the water. The capsule then bobs in the sea until rescuers come to pick it up. The device parallels the theological truth of Romans 8:l—”Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Justification does not mean our world always stops falling apart. The rig still may topple in the hurricane. The storm will take its course. The welfare of the workers depends on whether they are in the rescue device….those in the right place, whether a rescue module, or spiritually, believers in Christ, will weather the storm and be carried safely to the shore. Praise His Holy Name!

Weekly LinkUps…
 

38 comments:

  1. Hello Beth,
    I believe God will carry us safely to the shore despite the strength of life's Hurricane as we take our stand in Him.Amen!
    God Bless Beth

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    1. Ifeoma, thank you so much for your comments...I so agree with you, many blessings to you!

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  2. As always I love how you take a verse from the Bible-today Romans 8 and walk us through its deeper meaning. I find it very reassuring to know there is no condemnation for those who are ion Christ Jesus but I am realistic to know that these words need to fill me over and over again. Too often I doubt that the words are true and God needs to remind me that He cleansed us once and for all when we chose to accept Him into our life. Thank you for these words today and for honoring God here on this page.

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    1. Thank you, Mary, I, too, feel like Jesus is walking me through this process...it began 12 weeks ago with Ephesians Chapter 1, and when I finished that, Romans 8 came to my heart, it is a joy to dig deeper in these precious chapters! Many blessings to you!

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  3. Oh friend... that song! I love that song and it has been on repeat around here too! Great post!

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    1. Karrilee, thank you so much for your sweet comments! It is amazing how the atmosphere around us is so filled with the Holy Spirit's presence when such anointed music is playing...and pour on top of that His Word... oh my, heaven indeed ❤️

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  4. Great Post. What a mighty God we serve. Visiting from the Link Ups!

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    1. Thank you, Sarah, I so agree with you...Many blessings to you!

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  5. What a great analogy and insights - thank you for your inspired words today.

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by with such encouraging comments. Many blessings to you!

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  6. I have never seen the word "katakrima" and being the word girl that I am find the meaning and F.B. Meyer's words to dig deeper and fill me up like when digging a hole on the beach. The tide just comes rolling in and fills it up.
    Praising God for His always-care for us.

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    1. Thank you so much, Linda, I love your words...having just returned from the beach, your analogy of the tide rolling in and filling us up beautifully describes what the Holy Spirit does when we seek Him in God's Word ❤️

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  7. I have never seen the Greek word - katakrima - and being the word girl that I am, I love finding new words in the Bible, especially.
    Reading the definition of "condemnation" and "katakrima" alongside F.N. Meyer's words makes the Scripture even more power-filled.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

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    1. Linda, I am a Word girl too! Thank you so much for your encouraging comments...many blessings to you ❤️

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  8. Beth, I so am blessed in reading the various translations you share or the meanings of a word. I so appreciate this. This morning it was The Phillips > "No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ." There is nothing looming or hanging over our heads. How very freeing! Blessings today!

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    1. Joanne, thank you so much for your enthusiastic comments! I so agree with you...many blessings to you ❤️

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  9. No condemnation....there is no condemnation. Yes (head bobbing). Beth, how impactful your daddy's lesson must have been. The legacy the lesson and man knitted is sweet to see unfold. Even more so, your Father's. Praise his holy name. Visiting via #livefreeThursday.

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    1. Kristi, Yes! So true ... My Daddy's words always resonated my Abba Daddy's Words ...now my head is bobbing as the Holy Spirit fills me again with His peace and joy in His Presence...many blessings to you ❤️

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  10. I love the insight you share here and reading one of my all time fav scriptures in various translations.
    This scripture is a beautiful reminder of our standing in Christ.
    Thanks for sharing and for coming around my blog: Gracious Insight.

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    1. Grace, what a beautiful name! Thank you for your encouraging words...many blessings to you ❤️

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  11. I love this scripture in Roman Beth. I clearly remember when the truth of no more condemnation from God lit up my soul. Knowing He does condemn me, convict yes, but no condemnation help me see when I would condemn myself. Good post.

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    1. Betty, it is so powerful, so life-changing when we really begin to believe the Truth of God's Word...condemnation is the root of so many of our fears and insecurities...thank God for His Blessed Assurance ❤️ Many blessings to you!

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  12. When God fully wrote this truth on my heart, I was never the same again. It is breathtakingly beautiful!

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    1. Amen, Christine, I so agree with you, thank you for your sweet comments. Many blessings to you ❤️

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  13. No condemnation, how wonderful. Thank you for sharing this with us at Good Morning Mondays. Romans 8 was a chapter our older children took upon themselves to memorise. It would be a good thing for us all to do. Blessings

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    1. Thank you for stopping by from your sweet Good Morning Mondays! I am so encouraged by your children choosing to memorize Romans 8...what a wonderful challenge for all of us! Many blessings to you ❤️

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  14. I love the quote from F.B. Meyer. So encouraging. Thanks for sharing and I love the art too! : )

    I'm your neighbor over at the 'Spiritual Sundays' link-up.

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    1. Cathy, thank you so much for stopping by...I so agree with you about the F.B.Meyer quote...such wisdom and comfort...many blessings to you ❤️

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  15. This gorgeous image caught my eye! Artwork conveys meaning where print can not. Love that hymn.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa! I so agree with you. I have been greatly inspired by the artwork at our Artful Story--journaling FB page. I, too, am uplifted by beautiful praise & worship music. Many blessings to you ❤️

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  16. What a lovely song that is, Beth, thanks for sharing. I've never heard it before.
    I love how you parsed out that verse with such detail. Interesting. :) I've been reading the NLT for about the last year, and have been enjoying how the verses pop off the page more than they did when I was reading a more familiar version. :) Thanks for sharing this morning. :) ~ blessings ~

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    1. Thank you so much for your encouraging comments, Brenda. I, too, am inspired by digging a little deeper in God's Word...so rich...many blessings to you ❤️

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  17. Now I've got to go and listen to this song!

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    1. It truly is an anointed song, many blessings to you, elizabeth ❤️

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  18. LOVE that art work! Thanks for sharing it and this beautiful truth of our standing with Christ. May we all walk with the truth that we are no longer condemned because of His blood.

    May He continue to fill your cup to overflowing!

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    1. Thank you, Heather. Love the name of your website...He does, indeed, fill my cup to overflowing...morning after morning...with His Presence and His Peace...greatly blessed, highly favored, deeply loved...many blessings to you ❤️

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  19. I so appreciate that practical illustration at the end as well as the in depth analysis of the word for condemnation.

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by, Michele. Many blessings to you!

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