Better Than Bob the Builder (Romans 8:1)

From the tract '10 Reasons Jesus Came to Die' by John Piper

#3) To take away our condemnation

The first thing that came to my mind when I thought about freedom from condemnation in the context of this verse was the “Get Out of Jail Free” card for the death row inmate. It seems that this may be what Paul had in mind when he wrote this verse. However, after a day or two of mulling over how to draw that, I was inspired to take a different path. A governor’s pardon for a convicted felon shows the immediate impact of faith in Jesus, but we've heard this version of the metaphor enough that it's easy to reflect on it for only a moment and then toss it aside. Beyond the boredom of a cliché, I've also been trying to drill home the point that Christianity isn't meant to be a quick fix. Perhaps the idea of a condemned house may stick with you longer and hit you deeper.

First off, the actions resulting in a house being condemned don't require anything so drastic as a murderous rampage. All it takes is neglect over time. The average homeowner can paint the walls or install carpet or maybe even replace some drywall, but unless you're able and qualified to handle structural, electrical, or other issues all you're doing is fixing superficial problems. Eventually the makeup will wash away to reveal a house unsafe for human occupation.

Likewise, in a swift moment Jesus can rip down the bright colored sign out front that yells “CONDEMNED,” but it takes time for him to rebuild the house. He has all the tools to fix it right up, but he can only put in the hours while you're there to let him in.

If you've ever removed wallpaper without getting angry: