All of us, at some point, have made mistakes or fallen short of our goals and felt guilty because of it. Perhaps we’ve made repeated attempts to do something we felt we should do, failed, and condemned ourselves for our failures. Feelings of condemnation stem from a mindset based in the old, expired Law of Moses; thankfully, the covenant of grace that Jesus established releases us from this curse. God sent us His Son not to condemn us, but to save us.
The law as given—with not only the Ten Commandments, but also more than six hundred additional requirements—was impossible to keep. It pointed out man’s sin, and created guilty consciences in everyone. When Jesus came, however, He turned everything around. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Grace offers unconditional love and acceptance without judging. When Jesus came to Jericho and Zacchaeus, a thief, climbed a tree to see Him, Zacchaeus received grace, not condemnation, from Jesus. The woman caught in adultery received the gift of no condemnation when she was brought to Jesus. Zacchaeus and the woman were among many whose lives were changed by God’s grace.
Condemnation has the potential to destroy our lives, but a relationship with Jesus renders this emotion powerless. If we’re accustomed to thinking of God in old-covenant terms, we no longer have to be afraid of Him under the new covenant. It’s not His nature to punish or condemn us. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Under the law, the people had no opportunity to be born again and receive a new nature; therefore, they were alienated from God. By comparison, born-again believers have received the ministry of reconciliation that Jesus brought. We’re no longer separated from God, and He’s no longer our harsh judge. Instead, grace has revealed to us a loving heavenly Father.
Prayer:
Lord, the covenant of grace Your Son established shows us a merciful, compassionate side of You that many people don’t know about. You’re not angry with us, and You welcome us with open arms. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
John 3:17
John 1:17
Luke 19:1-9
John 8:3-11
Romans 8:1, NIV
2 Corinthians 5:18