There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8: 1 NKJV
I recently saw a video online where a young lady was taking the bold step of giving her own testimony for all the world to see. Apparently she had been a victim of the worst of pornography as well as feelings of self doubt and condemnation. I get it. For those who have read this page before, I've been there. I've been down that very same road where this young lady was headed. This indeed proves all which I have heard that the evils of pornography are not just indulged in by the men around us. For me, my addiction led to all sorts of issue I began to have with myself. Feelings of low self esteem, self doubt as well as not feeling very worthy. I could see those feelings in the young lady in this video. However, if I were to give her just one bit of advice I would tell her to not expect her public testimony to free her from her chains. At least that's not how it worked for me. I can remember telling my story a few times while in the grip of my addiction, and not much changed aside from more people knowing what I was dealing with. Perhaps that was this girls intention in relating her story. Let me just say that we can tell others our story all day long and it will never come close to healing what it is we are trying to escape. Those who have been to addiction recovery meetings know this all too well. Sure, we can attend the meetings and tell everyone what we've been through, but after that meeting is over there will still be those who will indulge their addiction. What is it about giving our testimonies that somehow leads us to believe that we will be cured of what we're dealing with? Well, back in the day, a testimony was given by those who wanted to tell the world what God had accomplished in their lives. Like the Christian practice of baptism. Baptism has never absolved anyone from their sins. On the contrary, it is merely a public testament of our faith in the Lord. The only similarity between baptism and our testimony is that they are both given in public. It is there where the similarities end.
Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV
So, what is the advice that I would give this young lady? What is it that you're chasing? What is it that you believe so strongly in your heart that convicts you? If this young lady were to approach the Lord and ask for forgiveness of her sins, He may just tell her "What sin?" I am going on the assumption that she is indeed a believer and that she has given her heart to the Lord. Knowing this, what sin is there that would convict her in the eyes of the Lord? Did not Jesus come to wipe away our sins {1 John 1:9, Acts 2:38}. Then there is the reality that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus {Romans 8:1}. Indeed, if I feel condemned by sin, have I sinned or have I simply forgotten what it is that Jesus has accomplished in me? I would say the latter is true. My sin needed to be dealt with, and it is Jesus who did that. It is Jesus who became sin on my behalf {2 Corinthians 5:21}. Ask yourself this question, how many times does Jesus need to be crucified? Almost all Christians would agree that Jesus died once for the forgiveness of all. Why, then, do we continue to condemn ourselves with the guilt of sin? The apostle Paul also tells us that we are now dead to sin {Romans 6:11}. That's right, that sin which someone told you was still with you...is gone. You are no longer seen as a sinner in the eyes of the Lord. What does God see when He looks upon us? He sees His only Son. Again, Paul assures us of this truth we have in Christ. We're told that it is Jesus who lives in us {Galatians 2:20}. So, the truth is that we are dead to sin, God does not condemn us and that we are one with Christ Jesus. I would hope that somewhere along the line, someone who needs to see this message in their life will read this.
I and My Father are one.
John 10: 30 NKJV
~Scott~
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