Justified!

Justified!

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 KJV

Context and Charge:

Paul would know the value of the verse under consideration today, as he had been one to seek justification from God by the law. He was a defender of the cause of the Mosaic law, and would not permit any deviations whatsoever. Even if it meant violence and death, he was ready to defend the cause. Like him, we have such people in abundance today, seeking to please God by acts of the flesh, forgetting that by the law, no man can be justified before God. The nature of sin inherited from Adam made that the case. No wonder the birth of Jesus had to break the chain of natural conception, so He could provide the right sacrifice that would provide salvation from sin and a new stand with God. 

It took just one encounter with this perfect sacrifice for Paul's view of a relationship with God to change. It was no longer a case of working hard to please God, but now relying on the finished work of Jesus to be acceptable before God. All of a sudden, it didn't matter what my past or present contained; the only thing that mattered was that I could call God Father just as Jesus does. That is one of the amazing benefits of my new stand in God. Now, my working hard isn't to 'buy' God's approval, but it is an appreciation of all that I have received from God through His son Jesus. The gift of Jesus opens up access to God and enables me to sit, stand and walk in places where I would normally not qualify to. 

Contention and Conclusion:

It won't stop people from still trying to earn salvation though. It seems that human nature just does not trust anything that comes without a price tag. All of our lives we have heard that you are only entitled to that which you have earned, and are now faced with a situation where nothing in my hands or life can be an effective substitute or sufficient payment plan for all that God has done. That is why making this claim hinges on my relationship with the key, who is Jesus. This promise of justification is accessible to those who are IN Christ Jesus, not those who just know the name or love the way the name sounds. Am I IN Christ Jesus? 

My relationship with Jesus defines how and where I walk. If Jesus has indeed sealed life for me, I must walk to please Him. I need the help of the Holy Spirit to do this. Flesh can never please God, because it is the nurture of sin. It cannot be broken, which is why flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. I must audit my life and make sure it lines up with the dictates of God's spirit. What inspires my daily pursuits and priorities? Is it a desire to please God or to seek after my own pleasure? I must keep at the back of my mind that my walk has eternal consequences. I can't afford to be careless. God's time of favour is here.