Today I want to remind you of one of the very powerful truths found in Romans 8 to help us replace our weakness with Christ’s strength. Romans 8:1 says, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” That word belong is also translated “in”. To be a Christian is to be in Christ. When you are in Christ, you trade your badness for His goodness. You trade your weakness for His strength. You trade your guilt for His grace.
Many Christians think of themselves as either good or bad. They work and work to do good, and when they fail they allow guilt to set in and they consider themselves bad. Instead of trading that guilt for grace, they try to cover their guilt with more and more good. It’s a battle of good or bad. And it happens again and again and again, until the guilt and shame build this huge wall blocking you from everything God wants to do in your life.
But here is the good news again: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” And let me tell you, that word no means no, none, not ever! Not your past, present, or future, and that’s why they call it good news! When you are in Christ Jesus you get to trade your guilt for grace, and that makes you stronger.
