Changed

By: Jen Devlin

Thursday, October 30, 2025

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

Every time I read this verse, I'm amazed when I think about its writer. The early church viewed Paul as a threat, but God saw him as a lost child in need of a savior. When Paul says there's no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, he was speaking from personal experience.

Paul knew a lot about guilt and shame, but he also knew what forgiveness and restoration felt like. Due to his religious training, Paul completely understood the power of Jesus' perfect sacrifice. What if I told you that like Paul, whatever you view as your greatest failure was only a momentary blip in your life? With Jesus, our worst moments bump up against our best accomplishments, and they fit together to demonstrate God's power and glory. Our lives are a mixture of good and bad decisions that merge into a glorious display of God's grace.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20

God isn’t surprised by our messiness... He's seen it all, and He has given us the only way out. The blood of Jesus removes our mistakes and modifies our flaws! Our repentance brought us to redemption, restoration, and forgiveness. But we must be careful, because Satan wants to convince us we are hopeless and beyond saving. Don’t believe him! If we doubt Jesus can forgive us, then we're saying His death and resurrection weren’t enough. Jesus' sacrifice was more than enough for us, for Paul, and for the generations that came before and after us.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your past? Does your past include memories that make you feel guilty and ashamed? Those aren't truths, they're emotions, and they aren't from the Lord. On the other hand, if we're feeling guilty about our current (active) sin, God may be convicting us and nudging us towards repentance. Christ follower, embrace God's forgiveness and the freedom an obedient lifestyle brings!

Jesus' blood paid for all our mistakes, which gave us another chance to live life right. Now, God doesn't see the old you, He only sees the person that is being transformed into the image of His Son! No matter how long you wandered, no matter what you've done, God can use your story for His glory! The moment He saved us He changed us, just like Saul (Paul) was.

Stop thinking about your past and stop trying to be perfect. Just stay focused on being more like Jesus!