The Exquisite Gift of No Condemnation

I was at the Women of Faith conference this last weekend and I saw some artwork for sale that I was driven to purchase.  It was a depiction of Jesus in His suffering. 

I used to see pictures like this and shudder.  Ever since I saw the movie The Passion of the Christ and wept through the entire scourging of Christ (which was vivid and extreme), I have had a hard time taking in the imagery of Christ’s suffering.  It is violent, for sure.  But my reason for wanting to turn away was because of my guilt over it.  Jesus died for my sins.  He paid this price for me, He was whipped and killed for me.   A sinless man, the Son of God, was tortured, beaten, humiliated and killed for me.

The deepest lie that I have lived with in my life is that I am fundamentally “unworthy.”  And I have had lots of evidence presented to me by the enemy of my soul that this is true.  Many things in my life have led me to the conclusion that I am unworthy.  “Only worthy people get “x” result – and since you don’t get “x” result, you are, by definition, unworthy.”  And the statements of evidentiary support from the accuser go on and on.

As I went to purchase this artwork and was compelled (yes compelled, driven even) to purchase it, I realized that I was desperate to buy it.  And my desperation came from an utterly transformed place in my soul and it is as follows:

I CAN NEVER REJECT THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST.  Because if I forget that He already suffered, I will forget that He has already paid the ultimate price for my sin.  He already paid for everything I have done wrong and will ever do wrong.  The sin that I have committed most in my life is this:  I have sinned in continuing to condemn myself.  I have agreed with the enemy that I am unworthy and thus, unable to receive the full measure of forgiveness, wholeness, grace and inheritance made available to me through my acceptance of Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I have rejected that Christ has already paid the price for my sin of self-condemnation and accordingly, agreed with the enemy that Christ's payment was not enough to set me free.

When I accept Christ in His suffering, I also accept His death and resurrection - all of which make all of God's dreams and plans for me possible.  His dreams that I will fulfill the call on my life – live the purposes He created me to live.  His dreams that I will embrace the person that He made me to be, so that I can shine for Him in this dark place.  His dreams for intimacy with me, for my healing, my wholeness, my joy and peace, my life lived to the fullest.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NLT)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

My prayer for all reading this is that you will receive the full measure of God’s blessing on you.  That you will walk in the freedom of NO CONDEMNATION through Christ.  He came so that you would have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).  Peace and joy to you!