“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1
Those who continue to walk according to the sinful longings of the flesh will be condemned on the last day. But those who repent and, by the Spirit’s gracious working through God’s Word, trust in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross are not condemned but are forgiven and counted righteous by God.
Keep me in the true faith, O God. Grant that I continue in daily contrition and repentance and hold fast in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross unto life everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
A close look into the mirror of God’s law shows us the true condition of our hearts — inclined to selfishness and sin against God’s commandments and deceiving us into thinking we are good. Only Christ is good, and He is our only Savior!
Have mercy upon me, O God, and forgive the wickedness of my heart for the sake of the shed blood of Christ Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
”O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24-25
No matter how hard we try, we just can’t measure up to what God demands of us in His holy commandments. Even as believers with a new nature that loves God and desires to please Him, we come short and are poor, wretched sinners! Thankfully, God sent His only-begotten Son to redeem us and, through faith in Christ, we are forgiven and granted everlasting life in fellowship with God.
Thank You, dear Heavenly Father, for sending Your only-begotten Son to pay the price for my sins and failings that I might have Your pardon and forgiveness through faith in Christ Jesus and His cross. Graciously keep me in the true and saving faith unto that Day when You will raise me up, without sin, to serve You forever in righteousness and true holiness. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18
In our human nature, now corrupted by sin, there is nothing good and no ability to keep God’s law. Even if we agree that the commandments of God are good and right, we still lack the capacity to keep God’s commandments from the heart. We need a Savior!
Have mercy upon me, O God, forgive my sins for Jesus Christ’s sake, and cleanse my heart and soul that I might serve You and live according to Your holy commandments. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.” Romans 7:10-11
God’s good commandments did not bring about our spiritual and eternal death; the sin inherited from Adam and Eve, which infects us all, did. God’s law is good and right, given that we might have life, but we are turned in on ourselves and unable to grasp its rightness or keep it. Therefore, sin causes our death and condemnation, and the salvation God provided in His Son is our only hope!
Your law is good and right, O God, but I am a sinner and have not walked in accord with Your holy law. Forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness for the sake of Christ Jesus, my Savior, and then move me to live according to Your holy will. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
