Romans 8:1 declares glorious news for all believers. If we are Christ’s, there is absolutely no condemnation for us!

That message is amazing because condemnation is exactly what we each deserve. Punishment would be completely just. Our condemnation goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve failed to obey God in Genesis 3:1–15.

It all started when a serpent approached Eve and questioned what God had really commanded His people to do. Satan always tries to get us to question God’s clarity. Adam and Eve listened to the serpent, doing exactly what they knew God had told them not to do and committing the first sin. Immediately, they desperately scrambled to cover themselves and hide in shame.

In a single moment, through just a bite of fruit, everything changed. Now Adam and Eve bore the weight of guilt. They stood before God, justly condemned.

When God confronted them about this, their response was blame. While they were truly responsible for their actions, they hurried to point fingers at others, trying to make it anyone else’s responsibility. Adam blamed God and Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.

In His mercy and grace, however, God did not give them what they deserved in that moment. Instead, He promised that their condemnation — and ours — would be met with grace through the cross of Christ. God sacrificed animals to make clothing to cover Adam and Eve’s shame, and He promised a far better sacrifice to come. Jesus would come to crush the serpent’s head!

This is why Romans 8:1 can proclaim that, as God’s children, we have no condemnation. Christ’s blood has covered our sin, shame, guilt, and blame. The serpent is no match for our Messiah!

Each of us is searching for a home for our heart. That home is found only in Jesus. Free from condemnation, we can safely rest in the loving arms of a God who cared enough to send us a Savior.