No Conscience of Sin, No Fear

Why are we afraid, really? We are afraid of the shame, the condemnation, the loss of acceptance and the dogged failure that may follow us. Most of all, many of us are afraid that we may anger God the Father, that He will turn us away, or that He will put us in a spiritual "time out".

What does the Bible teach? Even the Old Testament reveals God as one who wishes to establish peace, not enmity:

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8: 1, NIV)

No condemnation-- none, not one bit, as the Greek communicates a double, unshakable negative, because Christ has died for all our sins:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

We can never come into judgement, and our sin can never break out us out of fellowship with God the Father, for He know lives in us through His Son by the Holy Spirit. If we sin, His grace superabounds in place:

"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." (Romans 5: 15) and then "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5: 20) The wrongdoing of others will also work to our greater good: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10) So, in Christ we receive the gifts of no condemnation ever and the unending cascade of grace and favor, which will bless us wherever we go and whatever we do, because Christ has blessed us with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1: 3). When we are not afraid of punishment, when we can rest at ease in the righteousness of God in Christ. We do not even have to stress if we fail, because He makes all things work together for our good and His glory (Romans 8: 28).