No condemnation. Romans 8.

To me, two of the most powerful words spoken in any movie, are heard near the end of Saving Private Ryan. The movie is set in France during WW2 where a small company of men is sent to find and bring safely home the only surviving brother of three who were in the war. In the course of carrying out their mission, nearly all of the men give their lives to bring Ryan back home, including their leader who is played by Tom Hanks. Before he dies, knowing that Ryan will soon be headed home, he looks into the young man’s eyes and speaks these compelling words he says, “Earn this!” He wants him to understand that he has been given a gift. These words become a kind of calling upon his life to live in a significantly different way because of the great price that was paid for him to be alive.

To me, two of the most powerful words found anywhere in the Bible were penned by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8. The setting is everyday life, and Paul points out that we are in a very real battle with the forces of our flesh and the law of sin. Our great lack holiness has permanently separated us from God so that being with Him at all is impossible. We are doomed. Then enter his compelling words in verse one, “…no condemnation…” Once we were dead in our sins, without hope, alone. Our life expectancy was zero! But we have been rescued by Christ, at the cost of His dear life. These two words are a message of freedom and a new life…here and for eternity.

I see so many parallels between these two missions. Both were rescue operations that required traveling far from home, in hostile territory. Both missions were for the benefit of someone/s who did not know them at all. Both required absolute commitment to the point of death to ensure success. Both succeeded in setting their people free. In each case, their freedom was a free gift for the recipient. Each left a profound impact on the lives of those rescued.

There is one significant difference, however. Ryan was left alone to somehow live his life differently in the power of his own strength. Not so with those of us who now belong to Christ. Verse one tells us that our condemnation is removed, not because of our good (yet imperfect) efforts, but because of the perfect efforts of Jesus Christ. And when we are “in Christ” we are not only forgiven, we are changed. We will never again be alone. Ryan received a gift of life. But how great a new life we who trust in Christ have received!

As you read through the rest of Romans 8, be mindful of how powerful this “new” life really is. Paul teaches us that we have a new position, a new deliverance, a new relationship with His family, a new hope, a new provision, and new answers in this life.

May those two little words have a renewed and powerful impact on your life as you live in a significantly different way, yet in the power of God’s Spirit living within.

hook's note: Greg Wright is a pastor at BCC overseeing Small Groups and Worship.