Many Christians quote the Scripture verse, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, KJV).
The original word in Greek for condemnation is katakrima means penalty after guilt has been established. Keep in mind that Christ bore our guilt and sin upon the cross. He made a way for us to be free from the weight of sin and its penalty because of His rich grace and love for us.
We must remember the second portion of this Scripture verse that hinges on walking after the Spirit.
How many Christians who are clinging to some hidden sin will quote this verse as if wave off their sinful habit. They attempt to shake themselves free from the conviction the Holy Spirit. They don't won't listen to the warnings of consequences that may result from their disobedience. Foolishly they are heading into a storm that spells disaster!
Condemnation brings to mind a building that has long out lived its purpose. Perhaps to avoid structural failure or because of a new development the building is pronounced condemned and torn down. But through Christ we are not condemned but "like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (I Peter 2:5, NIV).
As His holy dwelling place we need to walk in the Spirit which will keep us structurally and spiritually sound.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25, NIV).
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