Paul in his letter to the romans starts the eight chapter with an important and simple declaration, “There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” He does not stop there but proceeds and state that “… Those who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” A believer is not condemned just because he is in Christ Jesus, but when he is in Christ and doesn’t walk according to the flesh (Human nature prone to sin and opposed to God)
This reminds me of the woman who was brought to Jesus after being caught in adultery. After dealing with those who brought her, Jesus looked back at her and say. “Neither do I condemn you…” The woman knew the goodness of having no condemnation. She passed from sin and a death sentence to forgiveness and life. Yet, Jesus did not stop at that, he proceeded to tell her to sin no more.
In another incident after Jesus had healed a man who had an infirmity for thirty eight (38) years, he gave him a stern warning after he was restored back to health, “Sin no more or something worse may happen to you. We see that this man’s thirty eight years of illness had apparently been brought by self indulgence. It was a sin of the flesh, avenged in the flesh, that had given him that miserable life. Sin does not only separate us from God, but it also brings death, illness and problems of all sort.
It seems that at times it is hard for a lot of us to rid ourselves of sin. We often find ourselves back to where we were after having been forgiven by God. Paul says “There is a law at work at work in me, waging war against the law my mind and making me prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. Although I want to do right, evil is right there with me.” Sin is at war within us and it’s often hard to stop sinning. By ourselves we cannot overpower the influence of sin and the works of the flesh. Paul encourages us to look outside ourselves and unto Jesus. Jesus works through us, not instead of us in the battle against sin, this battle will be an ongoing one and the only way to prevail and live out a life of no condemnation is to look to Christ Jesus and not live according to the flesh, but after the Spirit. Because, the desires of the flesh are contrary to the spirit and the Spirit desires are contrary to the flesh. There are in constant conflict so that you will not do whatever you want.
What sin do you need to rid yourself of ? In what capacity do you need to stop sinning ? What is it that you need to trust Jesus with ? Fasting put our flesh under subjection to the desire of the Spirit and though prayer and trusting Jesus we are able to Sin No More because we have surrendered and walk according to the Spirit.
Verses to Read and Meditate
Romans 8:1-3 ; John 8:11 ; John 5:14 ; Galatians 5: 16-24 ; Hebrews 12:1 Romans 7:21-25