Romans 8:1

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

No one can number all of Christ’s tender mercies and the manifold blessings of his shed blood. But let’s focus on one victory in particular: the forgiveness of all past sins.

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin … If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 9).

It is imperative that every follower of Jesus lay hold of this glorious truth. Appropriating it has everything to do with whether we will maintain a victorious faith in the midst of dire afflictions. Indeed, in days of uncertainty, this matter of resting in Christ’s forgiveness is crucial.

Many who have served Jesus faithfully over the years have grown confident that their faith can withstand any fiery furnace. Like the disciples, they testify, “Now I see, Lord. Now I believe.” They thank God that Christ has opened their eyes to his eternal purposes.

Then suddenly they are faced with an overwhelming, tremendous crisis. They realize they have entered a furnace seven times hotter than any they have ever known. They have come face to face with a battle so painful, a struggle so draining, that their house begins to shake. And soon it is being swamped with burdens and fears.

Hear the words of the apostle Paul: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that we previously committed” (Romans 3:24-25).

Through faith in Christ’s shed blood, all past sins are covered! We are cleared in the eyes of God by his unmerited forgiveness. All guilt, fear and condemnation are lifted and all past charges are wiped away. Hallelujah!

Amazingly, God made provision for this reconciliation while you were still in sin. According to Paul, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Finally, Paul tells us, “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” (Romans 8:1).