n Christ, we are freed from guilt and empowered to live a Spirit-led life of hope and grace.
If you asked me my favorite verse, it would be Romans 8:1–2. This passage is where I first felt secure while reading the Bible cover-to-cover:
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”
— Romans 8:1–2 (NLT)
A Long Journey to Assurance
Romans comes several books into the New Testament—a long way through the entire Bible. By the time I reached it, I was still wrestling with doubts. Would I really be saved after everything I had done? Could God truly accept me?
Of course, many people cling to John 3:16 as the foundation of their faith:
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16 (NLT)
That’s the gospel in a sentence, but for me, with the weight of my past mistakes, I needed more. Romans 8 gave me the assurance I was searching for: in Christ, there is no condemnation.
What About Future Sin?
The question remained: what about the sins I haven’t committed yet? Scripture reminds us plainly:
“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.”
— 1 John 1:8 (NLT)
Yes, we are sinners. But that does not mean we should live in sin. Instead, we pursue Christ-likeness—not because we’ll achieve perfection, but because it transforms our lives and blesses those around us.
The Beauty of Forgiveness
Like everyone else, I’ve done things that made me doubt I could be saved. But the good news is this: when we belong to Christ, condemnation no longer has a hold on us. God’s forgiveness covers the past, the present, and the future.
Romans 8:1–2 is my favorite verse because it assures me that I am no longer bound by guilt or fear. It reminds me that life in Christ is not just about eternity—it’s about experiencing a piece of heaven here and now as we walk in His Spirit.
The question is: will we accept His offer of freedom, forgiveness, and new life?