This is for the One Who’s Afraid of Getting it Wrong: A Look at Romans 8

According to the Word, I’m free.  I’ve given Jesus my heart and I know that His spirit lives in me.  When He said “It is finished,” it was truly finished.  And I hope to understand with my whole heart everything that God accomplished that day.  

Jesus bled and died on the cross so that I could be set free.  

So why do I still feel bound at times?  Why do I get caught up in worries about “getting it right?” Always asking myself is my life pleasing to God? 

If Jesus set me free, why am I still struggling with these hard to ignore, sometimes irrational, but very real fears?

What does it mean to be truly free in Christ Jesus?

Romans 8:1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Even writing this post right now; there’s fear.  I fear that I wont be able to say what’s on my heart and get my message across to you. I fear sharing my worries. 

But that fear of getting it wrong and missing the mark…we can’t.  We can’t get it wrong because Jesus got it so right.  On our behalf.  All He asks us to do is believe.  That’s it.  Just believe.  He didn’t say believe and then make sure you live your life perfectly.  He just said believe.

When Jesus said, “it is finished,”  He wasn’t kidding.  He wasn’t playing around.  He came and shamed the devil in the flesh, and snatched his power away by dying.  

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:15

Thank you Jesus.  Because of you, no one can condemn us.  

Romans 8:15-17

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Romans 8:31-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is bigger than my failures.

I’m sitting here justified. That’s so huge. I am content. I am OK with the Father and in good standing.  That’s so freeing.  I can live my life to the fullest, not tip toeing around trying not to make a mistake. Trying to be holy, when the One who lives in my already is. 

In Christ, I’m free to be me. There’s a lot more to this, but I want you to understand God’s love and faithfulness towards you, and the freedom that comes with it.  Build your life upon His love.

Are you struggling with the idea of freedom in Christ?  What does freedom mean to you?  Let me know in the comments below!