What do we say to the woman who has already gotten an abortion? How can we help the person who advised a friend or relative to abort her child? This is the flip side of a crucial issue and cannot be ignored.

From the Series: The Sanctity of Life...The Inescapable Issue

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At times we all find the route God has chosen for us doesn’t make a lot of sense. Especially when life takes a turn we don’t expect. But as Chuck Swindoll says, “Welcome to God’s World.”

Condemnation can quietly weigh down even the most faithful believers, especially when perfectionism and performance replace grace. Romans 8:1 offers freeing truth: for those in Christ Jesus, condemnation no longer exists because Jesus already carried the full weight of sin and shame on the cross.

Highlights

• Perfectionism often disguises itself as faith but leads to exhaustion and emptiness.

• Guilt and shame push us away from God, while grace draws us closer.

• Self-condemnation is a burden Jesus never intended believers to carry.

• Romans 8:1 declares complete freedom from condemnation for those in Christ.

• Jesus paid the full debt for sin—nothing more is required from us.

• Our identity is found in Christ’s finished work, not our performance.

• Grace is a gift to rest in, not something to strive to maintain.

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Full Transcript Below:

Carrying the Unnecessary Weight of Condemnation

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV).  

For many years, I was driven by perfectionism and the feeling that I had to work successfully or perform well in life to be loved by other people… and to be loved by God. On the outside, I looked like I had it all together- high honors throughout school, hyper-involvement in extracurricular activities, serving in any ministry I was asked to be involved in, star of the high school plays and musicals, head cheerleader, first chair clarinet player in the band, and the list goes on and on. But on the inside, I was so empty and constantly searching for true fulfillment. I knew God was there for me, but somehow, I thought I could be perfect in my own strength on my walk with Him. 

Because we are human, we fail time and time again. We make a mess of things more often than not. Guilt and shame can often push us further away from God, instead of closer. For so long as a Christian, I was allowing self-condemnation to take root in my heart, and it weighed me down as I walked around carrying all of the baggage of my past sins and failures, thinking that I had to continue to strive to keep God’s forgiveness. Thankfully, today, I no longer live burdened by a work-based mentality. I find my identity in the finished work of Christ, and I want to encourage you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you should too. Grace is a gift

God is called by many names in the Bible, but one of the most comprehensive is the name "I Am." God has many titles that remind us of His attributes and can encourage us when we face difficult circumstances. Dr. Stanley uses the life of Paul to illustrate that God truly is the God of all comfort.

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Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot’s family so vividly illustrates.

Finally, I no longer question my salvation! How can we best understand the book of Revelation? I can't find a church that teaches grace. What should I do? It seems like so many worship songs don't really reflect the truth of the gospel. What can churches do about that?