“There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) GNB (Good News Bible)
From here on out, I will be using the Good News Bible. It’s written in simple everyday English and easier to understand for most than the King James Version I have used for years.
Romans 8:1 tells the result of being in Jesus or in union with Christ. The condemnation which is the sentence of death because of sin, has been wiped clean. Jesus paid the penalty due. This is an incredible weight lifted off the judgement that was hovering over us for eternity. The implications are numerous.
“Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) Before Jesus we were enemies of God. “We were God's enemies, but He made us His friends through the death of His Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!” (Romans 5:10) The Truth is that we are more than friends. We are His children. “Some, however, did receive Him and believed in Him; so He gave them the right to become God's children.” (John 1:12) When we believe on Jesus and recognize Him as Lord and Savior, so many incredible things happen in a split second. We become new. “Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” (2Corinthians 5:17) We are immediately translated into the kingdom of God. “He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of His dear Son,” (Colossians 1:13) And we are made sons and daughters, co-inheritors with Jesus. “Since we are His children, we will possess the blessings He keeps for His people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for Him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share His glory.” (Romans 8:17)
One thing we can look forward to is the resurrection of the body. Yes, our bodies will be buried or cremated. But, at Jesus’ coming, we will be resurrected just like Jesus was resurrected. “For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.” (1Corinthians 15:22) After His resurrection Jesus had a recognizable body, but it was not flesh and blood. Flesh and blood cannot live in the presence of Almighty God. It cannot exist in heaven. It is different, but will look the same. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to many; first Mary Magdalene, then two disciples, then all the disciples except Thomas and to 3,000 at one time. Jesus went through locked doors and went from place to place immediately. “And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; the beauty that belongs to heavenly bodies is different from the beauty that belongs to earthly bodies.” (1Corinthians 15:40) “This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life. When the body is buried, it is mortal; when raised, it will be immortal. When buried, it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong. When buried, it is a physical body; when raised, it will be a spiritual body. There is, of course, a physical body, so there has to be a spiritual body.” (1Corinthians 15:42-44)
In union with Jesus, He gives us His righteousness. We could never achieve the standard of righteousness that God requires because we live here on this earth and are still in our flesh. We fail on our own. We could never stand before God as righteous. But Jesus gives us His righteousness. We can enter heaven because Jesus has given us His righteousness. We can come before the very Throne of Mercy and Grace because of the righteousness of Jesus on us. “and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith.” (Philippians 3:9)
“For God has revealed His grace for the salvation of all people. That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear. He gave Himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to Him alone and are eager to do good.” (Titus 2:11-14) Whatever God requires, we can do. He has given us the Holy Spirit, the Helper to help us lead godly lives and to teach us a better way.
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