Daily Devotion - May 18, 2023

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. (Rom. 8:1-2)

This beautiful phrase at the beginning of Romans 8 changes everything: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” In this wonderful verse, the apostle lays bare the gospel of what it means to be united to Christ.

Yes, we are sinful, and, yes, we have failed, but we are in Christ Jesus, and his grace covers our sin. A dear lady in our church gave me a Russian “nesting doll” to help illustrate. The doll contains others inside that look exactly like the doll on the outside. 

By being “in” the larger doll, the smaller dolls are covered by its features and are also made to mirror them. So also, when we are united to Christ by faith, our past, present, and future are covered by Jesus, and God’s heart views us as ones mirroring his holiness.

The personal sins and relational storms of our lives blow winds of self-rejection and self-doubt against our souls. Yet, our God does not condemn. As we unite our souls to him by faith, we are in Christ Jesus, sheltered from wrath and granted grace.  

All who confess their need of God’s grace are united to Christ, beloved by God, and free of condemnation – that includes you, when you are in Christ Jesus. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for grace that is greater than my sin because it places me in Christ Jesus, sheltered from condemnation and granted his righteousness over my sin.