Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Let me ask you a question... when is now?
Now is always now! Now is when you are full of joy and on top of the world. Now is also when you have fallen again into that bad habit or addiction! Now is always now. And the reason you can declare there is now no condemnation, even when you have given in once again to your flesh, is because of Jesus' gift of righteousness.
Jesus gifted you His righteousness so you can have His gift of no condemnation. Righteousness is who you are in Christ and comes from the person of Jesus Christ. It does not come through your own good works and your ability to comply with every law and command of God.
This is the truth Jesus wants you to live out. This is the truth that sets you free. This is the truth the devil does not want you to understand because he knows once you know that you are no longer condemned, that’s when sin has no power over you.
Consider the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-11). The law only judges and it condemned her to death by stoning. But Jesus, although He is the perfect law of God, He is also full of mercy and grace and He showed mercy to this woman because He knew He would be going to the cross to also pay the price of her sin.
Now, what is the difference between the Law and Jesus? The law only judges and condemns. But mercy is going to help a person and restore them back to the position God created them for. Jesus showed mercy to this adulterous woman and He restored her from her sinful lifestyle.
Jesus deals with the root problem of humanity which is condemnation. Humanity was condemned because of sin. So Jesus went to the cross and paid the penalty for all sin which released humanity from its state of condemnation.
Jesus said to this woman “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
When the root issue of condemnation is dealt with, then the sin issue can be dealt with. Jesus is showing us how to deal with the lifestyle issues of people who come into the House of God. Don’t show them the law and tell them to try to correct themselves by following a set of rules and regulations. Show them what Jesus has done for them on the cross. Show them that through the gift of Jesus' righteousness they have also received the gift of no condemnation.
Once they receive this revelation of righteousness and no condemnation, grace goes to work and every lifestyle issue will begin to fall off their life!
Grace brings hope and restoration back into a person’s life.