No More Condemnation

There is no more condemnation. This post is inspired by something my best friend, Angel said in her VLOG on Humility.

                Now this is not something I’m proud of, but I’m going to share it anyway. I remember in college cheating on an exam and getting caught. Now this was not the first time I had cheated, but this was the first time I got caught. I had to meet with my professor and discuss what course of action she was going to take against me. I remember going to my dorm, getting in my bed and just laying there with this sinking feeling in my stomach and wondering how I had got to this point. The guilt I felt was overwhelming. I didn’t tell my two best friends at the time because I was too ashamed. I didn’t want them to look at me differently. I nearly broke down when I had to tell my parents. Let’s just say that was the worst Winter Break ever because I was so consumed with my guilt. I ultimately didn’t get what I deserved, my professor showed me mercy and I was not brought up to the Honor Board. I took a failing grade in the class and ended up retaking the class (using a repeat forgiveness) next semester and passing with a B. I remember crying and praying to God and asking Him over and over again to forgive me. I just knew that God wouldn’t forgive me for what I had done. **Added Bonus** I’m gonna throw this in for free. As Christians sometimes we sin once and when there are no immediate consequences or we feel like we haven’t been seen by anyone or got caught (completely forgetting that God sees and knows all! He is omniscient), and we can find ourselves doing that thing again. It’s like if I got away with it once, I can get away with it again. Now, we know this thing that we are doing is wrong. We know its sin and felt guilty the first couple times we did it. But sometimes you do something so many times that you don’t even feel guilty anymore, you’ve become desensitized to your sin. It’s become second nature. You don’t want to ever get to this point! The point where God has to let you hit rock bottom so that you go back to Him and turn away from your sin because you’re not even aware its sin anymore.

                If you’re like me at one point in your life you’ve been consumed by your guilt over something you have done. You’ve known that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, we’ve felt ashamed. And ultimately just felt what I’ve done God can’t forgive me of. I’m here to tell you God can and will forgive you if you come back to Him and repent. What you’ve done does not condemn you. Romans 8:1 tells us, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” You are not condemned for what you’ve done. That is a tactic of the Enemy to prey on your emotions and feelings of guilt and shame and make you think and feel you can’t go back to God after doing what you’ve done; God will not welcome you back or forgive you. The devil is a liar!!! We are not living in Old Testament times where people are stoned to death for the sin they’ve committed. Jesus told the people ready to stone the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” No one was able to condemn to woman and neither did Jesus. He instructed her to go and sin no more.

                One of my favorite worship artists is Steffany Frizzell Gretzinger. I feel like I mention my girl, Steff all the time, but she is amazing! Be sure to check her out, she will have you on your face! There is a video of her on YouTube singing the song Stronger. My favorite part of the song says, “You are stronger, you are stronger. Sin is broken. You have saved me. It is written, Christ is risen. Jesus, you are Lord of all.” Jesus is stronger and bigger and more powerful than your sin. Your sin is not too great that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross didn’t cover it. You’ve not fallen so far from grace that you can’t come back to God. Jesus knew every sin you would ever commit and He still died for you. He still went to Calvary for you. Another part of the song says, “There is love that came for us, humbled to a sinner’s cross. You broke my shame and sinfulness. You rose again victorious.” Stop allowing your sin to have power over you and dictate to you, whether or not you can be forgiven by God. Jesus didn’t die for specific sins, He died for all sins. He died for the worst possible thing you’ve ever done. He died so that horrible sin you committed couldn’t keep you from the Father. The blood Jesus shed on the cross will cover your entire wrap sheet of sins, not just the ones you deem as little sins. His blood that was shed on the cross is your full coverage plan! If you get nothing else from this post, grasp this: Our God is a God that forgives and restores. After Peter denied Christ three times, Jesus didn’t chuck up the deuces and tell Peter he could no longer be a disciple. Jesus forgave him and restored him.  God will forgive you and restore you no matter what you’ve done. You are not condemned, there is no more condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. I pray that this blessed you.

Love you all to pieces,

Mariah

Here is the VLOG on Humility by Angel that I mentioned that inspired this post and the song by Steffany Frizzell Gretzinger.