As I bring this message to you today I want you to hear one thing. If you do not hear or read anything else I want you to hear these words spoken by Jesus until it permeates your very being. I promise you if you hear these words and understand what they truly mean whatever has happened in your past does not matter, what is happening in your present is changing and your future will be better, brighter, and more than you can ever imagine. The words are found in John 8:11… Jesus said, “I do not condemn you!”
If you think about these words, one might ask why Jesus said them. The easy answer is that Grace cannot condemn only the law condemns. This is true but there is more, Jesus the Lamb of God was already carrying the sins of the world and likewise the world had already been proclaimed innocent.
John 1:29-31 (The Message)
29-31 The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I've been talking about, 'the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.' I knew nothing about who he was—only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God."
God’s Passover Lamb who came to the Priest, John the Baptist who was in the River Jordan calling people to repentance sees Jesus and proclaims to the people here is your spotless lamb who forgives the sins of the world, he then laid hands on Jesus, the sins of the world was then transferred onto him and his innocence was transferred into the world. For three years Jesus went about not judging people but proclaiming their innocence. Then at the time of His sacrifice blood was shed and sprinkled on the Mercy seat paying the ransom for the world that through believing in this redemption salvation is received. He then rose from the dead proclaiming life forevermore to those who believe. Glory to God I hope you are getting this…
Let’s turn now to Romans;
Romans 8:1-4 (The Message)
The Solution Is Life on God's Terms
1-2 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
3-4 God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.
The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.
Now I could read this over and over and preach myself happy but the part that I want to point out is “simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.” Of course this speaks of the Holy Spirit but what is it doing in us? First and foremost the Holy Spirit is proclaiming you innocent. My daughter sings it this way; He makes me clean! The Holy Spirit will never condemn you, Jesus does not condemn you, God does not condemn you, and because of Grace you have been made innocent. Embrace this fact and your life will be changed forever! You might be saying but Brother Bryant my pastor says… or you don’t understand… I have always been taught to ask for forgiveness… the question I have is the same question Jesus asked… where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? For those in Christ there is no condemnation. You might ask but what about those who are not saved? All that is required is that they believe in their redemption and receive their salvation provided by God that was planned before the foundation of the world.
With that in mind let’s turn to 1 Peter;
1 Peter 1:18-20 (The Message)
18-21 Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
That you trust God and that you know you have a future in God. It is my prayer that you come to this very understanding that Jesus came not to condemn you but to proclaim you innocent so that you trust God and have a future in Him. Rest in knowing that God cares for you and wants you to know how much He loves you. You were on His mind when he laid the foundations of the world. Because of Grace the life that you travel is a journey of life everlasting, with a deep consciousness of God’s Love for You!
So now I close with the words of Jesus… “I do not condemn you” and in the name of Jesus… I proclaim you Innocent! Now go and do likewise….
God Loves You and You Are Blessed!
sigh.... such soothing balm for my soul. Thank you.
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