NOT GUILTY - JUSTIFIED!

Share this link http://gracelovetruth.com/?p=766 with a friend or follow us on FB or Twitter by clicking the buttons in the top right corner Many believers still relate to God as Judge instead of to God as Love - or they mix the two. This leads them to feel that they constantly have to come before God and justify themselves - proclaiming their guilt or innocence with regard to each and every sin. Brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit proclaims that these days are over: Jesus has justified us (i) by faith, once and for all. Now it is just as if we never sinned (ii).

We all know that we are guilty of sinning (iii), the Law tell us so, non of us can say we don't sin. But the good news is that Jesus paid a costly price for our sins on the Cross (iv). All who identify with His Cross, all who see their sin on Him (v), all who believe in Him and His finished work on the Cross.... "NOT GUILTY, RIGHTEOUS! "

Yes, we were guilty, but no longer. Sin is "No Problem" for those in Christ Jesus, so lets stop making it the main issue of our lives instead of Jesus and His Kingdom. This is offence of the cross; God's free gift of grace, forgiveness and pardon has set us free from the condemnation and punishment due for ALL our sin, past, present and future. We cannot be condemned (vi) any longer as we are no longer guilty in God's eyes.

But what about in our own eyes? This is the issue that so many of us struggle with and this is the issue that causes so many Christians to be ineffective, lukewarm and powerless. They are more conscious of their old sin state rather than their new righteousness in Christ.

Some may say that God's grace and God's forgiveness is a licence to sin. We all know that's not true. God hates sin and never empowers us to sin. In fact the truths of God's grace and forgiveness are the very power that enables us to say no to sin (vii). Now when we slip up and sin we have confidence that we are forgiven (viii). Let's face it, non of us who are truly "born again" want to sin any longer, our heart have been changed.

Sadly our fallen thinking keeps on telling us that the Cross wasn't enough and that we still have to "do" rather than "abide" in Christ.  Fallen thinking says that we must still focus on keep keeping  the Law, making ourselves "right", paying a price, proving ourselves worthy etc. But God says we can't do it ourselves (ix). God knows our human weakness, He says that we all fall short and need Jesus' grace (x) - everyday, like fresh Manna from heaven - nothing else works for sin and no other sacrifice is sufficient, except Jesus.

Lets be clear, sin is horrible, sin is damaging and sin is addictive. But the solution for sin is not our self effort  in trying to keep the Law or punishing ourselves - the solution is Jesus' Cross and living daily in the grace it brings; intimacy with the God of Love.

Why do I keep on harping on about this "sin" issue? Well, its because so many believers are still obsessed with their sins. They spend more time focusing on their sin than they do on Jesus. It's almost as if they don't believe in what Jesus did for them on the Cross. This robs them and the Church of joy, peace and health and  also discredits the Cross in the eyes of the unbelievers.

Lets fix our eyes on Jesus and His righteousness and believe that as we live in the Jesus consciousness of grace  sin is "No Problem"..... this is what breaks addictions, this breaks sinful habits and this causes us to live righteously. What we fix our eyes upon is what we live out.

"Lord renew our thinking and minds so we can declare with our mouths, sin is "No Problem" for us in Christ..... because as we believe so we become".

We are either slaves to Sin (xi) or we are not. As for me I believe what God says and  I declare I'm free from Sin and now a slave to The Righteousness of Christ (xii). That's the way I see myself because the Scriptures and Spirit within me agree. The root of my right living  is no longer my self effort but Jesus righteousness living in me. He flow out of me as a life giving stream of water. Oh yeah! Good Jesus news again!! I'm making myself happy just by writing these wonderful truths - join with me in this joy.

Be blessed, you are righteous and God's beloved. Enjoy.

Lets move in the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit and share the good news of Jesus grace. Sometimes just a "share click" is all that's needed to change a friends life. That's how easy it is to share Jesus today.

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Scriptures: (i) Rom 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,  Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (ii)  Heb 10:17 "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." (iii) Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (iv) 1Co 6:20  you were bought at a price. (v) 1Pe.2:24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." (vi) Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (vii) Tit 2:12 Grace teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (viii) 1Jn 2:12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.  1Jn 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (ix) Rom 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (x) Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (xi) Rom.6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— (xii) Rom 6:18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.