Freedom From Condemnation

An illustration of our freedom from condemnation can be seen in the novel Do We Not Bleed? In that novel, the character Jon Mote is investigating the disappearance of a young woman from a communal home run by nuns. He learns that the groundskeeper, Sam, has a criminal past. When confronted with his past, he admits going to prison: “‘When I got out, I couldn’t find work. Nobody wants a black Indian with no diploma and a past.’ Sam has stopped walking and is looking back toward the campus. ‘Sister Brigit was the only one. She cared about my past but she also didn’t care’” (Daniel Taylor, Do We Not Bleed? [Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2016], 109). He then describes his interview and how she knew of his past but presented him with an opportunity to start over. That second chance was gospel for Sam. It was good news that he no longer stood under condemnation but had a new start—because of the grace of God.