John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Are you being condemned by religion?

There is a quote by Michael Douglas in the movie, The American President, where he talks about the person who is running against him.

“And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only, making you afraid of it and telling you who is to blame for it”.*

Religion does the same thing. People who function from a place of religious bondage are not interested in helping you. They also have two things they do. They:

1. Identify what is wrong with you (judgement)
2. Treat you as if there is no hope for you (condemnation).

More often than not, they don’t tell you or show you a way out. Like it’s some kind of secret you have to earn or some closed group you have to pledge to get in to. It is almost as if you are doomed. Thank God, He does not work that way.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift[a] from God that brought us to Christ! 9 So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving. (The Passion Translation)

Also, He won’t leave you broken, ashamed and feeling as if all is lost.

8 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2, AMP)

Through salvation you are positioned to accept the transforming work of the cross and become the image the Father designed.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. (AMP)

You want to always remember salvation shines a light on your need for the Father, but also creates a new you with love and compassion. God will tell you what you need to do to move to a closer place in Him. That’s a great thing for you and for every believer.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I thank You for the access I have to You. Because of Your grace, I am no longer held in bondage by the law. I am covered by the blood of Jesus. I thank You! I am no longer interested in listing the wrongs I have done and what they mean. I will not allow others to list my wrongs without helping me do what is right. I repent for walking in condemnation. It is my responsibility to stand not someone else to make me stand. I thank You for moving me from the place of sin-consciousness to a place where I am heavenly minded in my choices. I will not spend so much time talking about what the devil has done, I will concentrate on what Jesus did and what that means for my life. I want to access the power available to me as a believer to be transformed into Your image. I thank You for the blood of Christ…