Devotion - Wednesday, March 13

One of the things which make Romans such a helpful book is that Paul is writing to a community which he had never visited.  As a result, his letter to them had to cover the background which he would have shared with them in his first lessons taught to them.  In Romans, we have a laying out of Paul's theology.  It is helpful to those of us who did not have the opportunity to sit with him and absorb what God had revealed to him.

In chapter 8, Paul begins to make a shift.  Having explained the reasons why God's people could not go on doing what they had been doing (trusting in a set of rules or restrictions to set them free), he now begins to set before his readers what this new way of living. 

He begins, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

All of his reasoning, all of his pleading comes to this one, single point.  We no longer live under the fear or shadow of condemnation.

This is what Paul would have said to the Romans had he been with them.  This is what he would have taught in his first lessons.  This is what he would have communicated in his daily interactions with them. 

Many are the encouragements to slip back to the law.  There are loud voices calling upon us to seek justification by our obedience or by our compliance.  But Paul would have us begin our new life - begin each new day - with the assurance that in Christ Jesus we are set free from our anxiety or worry.