Romans 8:¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...

New Years eve is usually for many a big let down.  Plans of fun and excitement can end in apathy and frustration as another year ticks over and the realisation that there is nothing different between this year and last's.

This is just a micro picture of a truly macro problem.  For true fun and excitement can only come from a change within and not from coming up with a greater scheme and plan to gain some pleasure in life.

Although planning and pleasure are not bad in themselves they tend to poor cousins of a greater plan and pleasure that is available through no work of our own.

For the greater plan to be experienced we must acknowledge the greater problem.

This problem is not limited to a new years party or relationship problem we are facing or financial issues in our world, it is far deeper and wider than we know.

The reality is we are condemned.  The human condition is one of separation from God, or sin.  We could have all the gadgets, money, know the right people, live in a mansion and still feel condemned or wrong.

So when Paul the Apostle writes 'Therefore there is now no condemnation...' this is no light statement.  He is talking about the end of the human condition that plagues every heart and mind on the planet.

Paul describes in the previous chapters the terrible state of man apart from God.  That although there is reflections of God's goodness in us and around us ultimately we have no glory and no light of our own.

But he can't just leave us hanging there with such a terrible gloomy view of the human mind in the previous paragraphs, there has to be a solution.

And he doesn't just make a positive statement of motivation, saying that even though we are in a bad state as humans it is okay because there is no condemnation!

No he goes beyond this revealing and showing us that the only reason we are no longer condemned is because of Jesus Christ.

His atonement and sacrifice on the cross has paid the penalty for our sins!  Because we were condemned we were meant to pay a price but we didn't have to because of our God, Jesus Christ.

Paul makes it very specific though, he says we are no longer condemned if we are IN Christ Jesus.

Once we see the state of our mess, the state of separation from our beautiful Father and creator maybe this will humble us to see the amazing love and grace that Jesus has poured out for us, that even though we are just like dust in comparison to Him, He would humble Himself to the point of death for us, why?  So we would no longer be condemned, but have freedom IN Him.

I don't know about you but this humbles me, this excites me, this softens me, this changes me, this changes everything!  Humanity is healed, the world is set free because of this ultimate truth!

It is not bad news at all, it is only bad news if we are too blind or too proud too admit that by ourselves we have made a real mess of things down here on earth and we need someone who knows what to do and how to live and how to love to show us the way up and through and out of this mess.

And although we will have to walk through some more mess we know that we are heading the right direction, and as surely as the sun rises in the morning and sets in the night we can be sure Jesus Christ is leading us home.

This is now a great opportunity for us to recommit or reconnect with Christ, don't let another year pass by without knowing Jesus more and letting Him heal your heart so it is regenerated by His Holy Spirit to live a pure, right and blameless life so that all will know this love that has saved us.

Why don't you stop and pray for His grace to fill you as you repent and turn back to Him today...

May it be a truly Happy New Year for you in 2010 because you are IN Christ Jesus.