The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 34:22 ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 ESV
The wages of sin is death. From the beginning, death has been at work in us as a result of the fall from grace of the world’s first sinners, the first humans, Adam and Eve.
None of this surprised God. He knew we would sin. He knew we couldn’t resist the temptation that pride entices us with, the idea that we could become like God. The trouble is, the knowledge of good and evil, the fruit of the tree, corrupts whoever eats it. When you become a judge of good and evil, you become intimately acquainted with good, and evil.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience].”
Genesis 2:16-17 AMP
There is only one righteous judge who cannot be corrupted by the knowledge, the recognition of evil. That is our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is incorruptible, because He is God and God is holy. He sees our evil deeds and yet chooses to forgive us. Our Judge knows we’re guilty, but He sets us free and pays the penalty Himself. That’s how He loves. He says, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has made you well. Go and sin no more.”
He was always Plan A for the redemption of humanity. He was crucified from before the foundations of the world. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He already laid down His life to redeem ours. If we are in Christ, we’ll do the same. We’ll lay down our lives for Him, and He will save ours.
The Gospel of Grace, the free gift of God, has been God’s message since the beginning. It’s called falling from grace when we try to work our way into God’s favor instead of accepting it as a gift. We already had it in the Garden. There’s nothing that you can do to earn God’s love, you just accept it. We’re going back to the Garden.
There’s nothing you have to do to become like God, you just abide in His love. We were created to be in constant fellowship with God, but somehow we lost our way. The Law of Moses pointed us in the right direction, but we always found ways to disobey the core principle: love God and others more than your self interest.
If we can remember that one law, love at all times, we’ll fulfill the law. Jesus fulfilled the Law so we don’t have to. But we’re still called to obey. Obey the law of love. There is no higher law. It’s called the Royal Law for a reason. The Kingdom contains those who abide by this law.
It’s really simple, but somehow we complicate it because it’s too easy. We want to somehow exclude others by creating rules and traditions so that we can take control. When we do, we fall from grace.
We are redeemed by the grace of God. To be redeemed means to take something that’s empty and make it full. We were once lost, but now we’re found in Christ. We were once sinners, but now we’re saints. We were once selfish, and now we’re self-sacrificing. We once lived according to the flesh, now we live according to the Spirit.
Do you want to see a miracle? They happen everyday. Everyday when a sinner hears the glorious Gospel that God loves them and saves them through Jesus Christ and they do an about-face.
Now is the time to be unashamed of the Gospel. It is still God’s power to save. Share it freely. Share it with everyone. Especially those that think they believe but have somehow fallen from grace. Those who think they will be justified by their works, by their keeping of rules and regulations, but have no love for God or their fellow human beings, they need saving, too. God loves the legalists as much as He loves the prostitutes. He came to save us all from our sins.
Don’t be afraid to share the Good News at church. It just might set the captives free.
Now is the time for the sons of God to be revealed. They are led by the Spirit of God. God is love. They are led by love to live lives of compassion. Be the first to know, His grace is sufficient. Prodigals come home. And He welcomes them all in, with arms wide open.
Father in Heaven, thank You for Your grace, Your mercy, Your kindness. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sins so that we can enter into the Kingdom of God by faith in Him. Give us what we need for today and lead us in love to share the Good News with everyone we know and everyone we meet, with grace, gentleness and respect. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Activate Your army, Lord, of Gospel messengers. Amen.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:12-14 ESV