| Now - article by Joel Hempel
Now means now! Now and every future now means now. What now am I talking about? This one: There is therefore NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Are you “in Christ Jesus?” You absolutely are if you know and trust you have been covered in Christ’s sacrificial love from the cross. And since you are in Christ, God does not see your sinfulness when he looks at you. He sees Jesus because you are “in” him. It’s a miracle and mystery that God has brought us into Himself. Such intimacy with Christ Jesus is mind-boggling. But Scripture repeatedly states we are in Christ (Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; Ephesians 2:20-22). Understandably, when we sin and know we have done wrong in full view of God, who sees everything, we rightly feel guilty and ashamed. But there is an enormous difference between God seeing our behavior about which we need to repent and God seeing someone indifferent and disconnected from His Son. In Christ, however, by God’s grace, we have turned away from indifference and have been brought into God’s Family of the Forgiven! Think about the implications of you – and all Jesus-followers – NOW and FOREVER having been accepted as his beloved child.
- When Satan or whoever wants to condemn you because of some terrible behavior or past sin for which you have already repented and received forgiveness, smile and show them Romans 8:1.
- When your memories of God-offensive behavior grab you in the night and declare you guilty, call it aloud for what it is – a lie! You now live under the saving umbrella of Romans 8:1.
- When Satan tempts you to play your “saved card” and tries to convince you that you are free to do whatever your foolish flesh wants to do, tell him in the name of Jesus to get out of your head – that he’s right, you are not condemned, but you are also not stupid.
- Daily, God wants us to remember we are free:
- free from being afraid of what follows death – because our life with Christ in heaven is secure
- free from boredom – because God has a special calling for each of us
- free from the obligation to live the life Jesus calls us to – because now obeying and serving Jesus is our privilege
That was the good stuff of living in the NOW. Here’s the exciting stuff:
- With our identity as people in Christ, we can risk being bold for our Lord, trusting his promise of an amazing and adventuresome life. Really! Look it up (John 14:12).
- An entire congregation can be in Christ (see Galatians 1:22). God wants us to envision what we could become – in Christ! Imagine what John 14:12-14 would look like if it were implemented in our church.
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