This is one of the most important verses in the Bible. Jesus’ death lifted the condemnation from us. There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I believe this verse speaks not only about the condemnation of eternal death, but also the condemnation of feeling unworthy. Jesus took all that from us, yet many of us are still condemning ourselves, beating ourselves up and living in defeat rather than victory. And we might not even realize it.
Our condemnation we live under may be traced back to what someone said to us or what someone did to us. Abuse by a parent, a teacher, a friend, a boss, a co-worker, a spouse. And for some of us, it may have been continuous and by numerous people. Or it could be traced back to something we did. In fact, these things may be buried so deep that we don’t even recognize them anymore. Here’s the thing… someone’s innocent words or deliberate actions sent us a message – you’re not smart, not worthy, not loved, not appreciated, not valued, not important. And subconsciously, you believe these things.
So, we live in that condemnation. When we moved from Michigan to Ohio years ago, we noticed that the police were everywhere, giving tickets to everyone. My husband said, “The Ohio police literally beat us into submission.” Well, those things said or done to us also beat us into submission unless we find freedom from them. That is… until we can arise from the condemnation.
There are two things that can open the pathway to freedom from the condemnation we put on ourselves. 1) Surrender to Jesus. Fall at the cross and give Him everything. Tell Him that you want to live for Him and in obedience to Him. And 2) Retrain our minds, our thinking. The condemnation we have submitted to comes from our thinking… we remember the bad things said to us and forget the good things God says to us. I think about the person who was just diagnosed with dementia. They put sticky notes around the house… turn off the stove, wash your hands, load the dishwasher, brush your teeth, get dressed. Maybe we need to put sticky notes around our house to remind us what the Bible tells us…
You’re… valued, loved, cherished, made in the image of God, precious, chosen, important, smart, highly esteemed. If you are feeling the condemnation, start here. Write out verses that tell you of your worth, value, and your place in the Kingdom of God. Recite them again and again. Truth will push those lies out. We CAN walk in victory and be free from condemnation. But we must surrender and retrain our minds. We can do this. Let these words encourage you today.