Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Romans 8:1-3
1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh.
I remember as a child the many times my dad would help me take care of a situation that I thought I was capable of handling, but I could not. There were specific times my mom would ask for my help opening a jar or grabbing an item from the top of a shelf. As the oldest child I thought I knew it all and could do it all (maybe you can relate), however though I would try my hardest to do it oftentimes I was forced to turn to my dad for help to take care of the situation. It was in those moments I realized that there were certain things at that age I was just incapable of doing. Thankfully though what I was not able to do, my dad who was there was able to do.
Hey friends, though we may try with all our might, there Is nothing we can do to earn our way back into a relationship with God. The apostle Paul here in Romans 8 highlights the reality of the Gospel in the first three verses. He speaks of how those who have surrendered their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ no longer are under the condemnation of falling short of God’s holy standard. Hallelujah! Our sins have been forgiven through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! He then reminds the Romans just how powerful the finished work of Christ is in contrasting the law with His gift. In contrasting the two the statement we can take away is this: For What the Law Could Not Do, God Did.
There are many who claim to believe that simply good works is enough to save you. There are others even within the church who believe that you can be saved by following/observing the 10 Commandments the best way they can or following a certain set of traditions/rules can make you right with God. The reality is that none of those things have saving power. As a matter of fact, Paul writes in another section the reality of the law of God being a tutor that inevitably shows us our sinful condition and our need to trust in Jesus to save. (Galatians 3).
What Paul is highlighting is that there is no saving power in following a bunch of rules or regulations. Trying your best to observe the 10 commandments, pray, or attend church in and of itself cannot not save you. We are saved only through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. None of us measure up to God’s holy standard, but praise be to God for His immeasurable gift.
One of my favorite songs is from a group called Shane and Shane. In the chorus of the song is a question which is posed which states:
Are you sitting down?
With all your sin and shame all stored up
Are you ready to live?
For what the law could not do
God did
What the law could not do, God did. Listen friend, are you striving to get right with God by following rules and regulations? Understand that those rules and laws cannot save you, but Jesus can. Are you wallowing in your sin and shame of not being able to live up to God’s holy standard? If so, choose to turn and trust in Jesus today. In Him there is no condemnation. Your sins can be forgiven as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). Your sins can be washed white as snow. You can live in the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ alone and live the way we were created to live—in a loving relationship with our Creator. If you are a child of God, choose to allow for what He has done for you stir your affections for Him more deeply and move you to live for Him.
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the cross. Thank You for sending Jesus to be the greatest gift ever. Thank You for Your love for us. Help me to reflect on what You have done for me today and every day. Help me to worship You with my lips and my life out of gratitude for who You are and what You have done. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
SONG OF REFLECTION FOR TODAY: God Did- Shane and Shane
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Romans 5:1- Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.