GOSPEL MESSAGE & RECORDING
The “law” was given as a tool by God to the Jews to identify sin. Before that, there was an understanding of “right” and “wrong.” One can make this inference because when God did not accept the offering of Cain, He clearly stated, “if you do NOT do well, sin lies at the door. Sin desires for you, but you should rule over it.” (Gen. 4:6) However, it was only until the 10 Commandments were given at Mt. Sinai that God codified a list of sins. This brought forth the “knowledge” of sin as specific behaviors, such as, stealing, adultery, idolatry, etc. Although the knowledge of sin was now available, sin still reigned. In other words, sin did not disappear because people now knew what was specifically right or wrong, even if they had a reference point as the 10 Commandments. On the contrary, sin continued, carrying with it condemnation. Condemnation is the feeling that a person has after he or she has sinned because there is no recourse for reconciliation that is truly valuable. Yes, of course, God provided a way for the Jews to atone for their sins letting them offer sacrifice at the Temple (Lev. 16); but even God knew that would not truly satisfy. It was only with Christ, and His sacrifice on the Cross, that mankind would be released from the condemnation of sin; because now, though there is still sin, and even though we might sin as “sinful” people (I speak about Orthodox Christians), the condemnation that existed in the world through the law no longer has power because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul was speaking about today in his epistle to the Romans 8: 1: “There now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, we walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.”
There are two clear messages that we as Orthodox Christians can take away from this passage:
Though there is “no condemnation” we as Christians should not take advantage of Christ and His grace. St. Paul says, “where sin abounds, grace abounds, but that does not mean we sin more.” (Romans 5:20) (By grace we mean the love of God that is showered upon us through our relationship with Christ and our receiving of the Sacraments.) We should never feel comfortable in our sin. Sin should lead us to repentance and the Sacrament of Confession.
This reality: that there is “no condemnation” should make us feel humbled before God, that he would grant us, humans, this divine dispensation. It should make us more holy, more loving, more caring, more forgiving, more compassionate, more prayerful, more considerate, more humble, etc. If, the fact that we have no condemnation in Christ, does not lead us to this “more,” something is lacking in our spiritual life that needs attention and needed repair.Now, we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. The reality is that we will fall into sin and we should be prepared for that. (I am not saying we should plan to sin. If that is the case then we are not serious Christians—but Christians only by “label.”) But, for us Orthodox Christians, there is “no condemnation.” Meaning, we repent and receive the Sacrament of Confession; but we do not fall into despair, which leads to feelings such as, “God doesn’t like me anymore,” “God will not accept my repentance,” “God is going to punish me,” “God is going to get even with me for my sins.” None of these thoughts are from God. They are the thoughts of the enemy. We should not entertain such thoughts but always remember that there is “no condemnation.” We should have a sense of “freedom” and “liberty” from the “darkness” that sin put us in. “No condemnation” means: we will repent, receive Confession, but bounce back up and continue living and growing in the Lord.