My morning walks give me an opportunity to hone in on what God wants to share with me for the day. One morning during my walk, I was thinking about God’s plan and thanking Him for the open doors that would move me forward as He orders my steps. Suddenly, my mind was ambushed by negative thoughts of my past. These thoughts about the wrong decisions I had made, resulting in sin, still haunt me. These negative thoughts set off a chain reaction of unbelief that contradicts who I am in God. But wait: now that I am born again [a new creation in Christ], why am I still holding on to doubt, guilt, and shame?

     2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) says, therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things 

     are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

This passage reminds me that I am a new creature in Christ and that I was given a clean slate, an opportunity to start over again with a new mindset. Even though I have read and studied this Scripture, my sub-conscious reminds me of my old way of thinking. It has not caught up with the truth of the word of God. There’s no doubt that I have sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). However, when I gave my life to Christ, Jesus forgave me and took the charge off the books—He erased it! In a spiritual sense, this means that I cannot be charge twice for the same offense—that’s double jeopardy. In parallel, the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution that includes the double jeopardy clause explains it as a procedural defense law that prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for substantially the same crime.

 

As a new creature in Christ, when we keep condemning ourselves for breaking God’s laws, it’s called self-incrimination. Self-incrimination is when one voluntarily (or by interrogation) implicates oneself in a crime. Therefore, the scene of the crime is our mind. Our mind can often be our own worst enemy, blocking us from the truth.

     Romans 8:1 (KJV) says, there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, 

     who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit

 

The King James Bible dictionary defines condemnation as “The act of declaring one guilty, and dooming such to punishment.” But thank God that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set us free from the enemy’s lies and torture.

     Romans 8:2-8(KJV) says, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from 

     the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, 

     God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

     That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after 

     the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after 

     the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded 

     is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law 

     of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

Note that the carnal mind does not follow (is not subject to) the law of righteousness because it is in opposition to the mind of Christ. When Christ gave His life for us, He changed our status from being unrighteous to being in right standing with Him. As born-again believers, we must be Christ-minded, intentionally allowing the Word of God to transform us and bringing our thoughts under the Holy Spirit. Do not forget to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18) so that you will always be well equipped for the enemy’s tricks.

Next time past sins surface in your mind, remember that you are justified by God’s grace through faith in Christ’s blood. His blood brings you into alignment with God’s standard of righteousness, giving you access to God. Moreover, the law of the Spirit prohibits condemnation, this is God’s double jeopardy clause. Time to let go of doubt, guilt, shame, and mindless thinking and to put on the mind of Christ. You are free! You are forgiven!

Call to Action: Practice bringing your thoughts under the subjection of The Holy Spirit.

 

Affirmation: I affirm; God’s grace has set me free! No condemnation—Not guilty—Case closed!

 

Additional key points and Scriptures to meditate upon:

2 Corinthians 10:5-7, Cast down imaginations…

Romans 12:2-3, Be ye transformed…

Ephesians 6:11-18, Armor of God…

Serving Together,