Fighting Condemnation

One of the most difficult and prevalent challenges facing the 21st century Christian is fighting condemnation. Sometimes confused with judgement, condemnation is something that we often do to ourselves, and sometimes cast at others. The former is, in my view, more common. Let me share some Scriptural truth with you on the matter.

John 3:17-20 – “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

This passage is often overlooked. I guess Jesus dropped such a huge truth in verse 16 that the rest of it is just overshadowed. *shrug* This passage may be the “second born” in the family, but it’s just as important as big bro, “John 3:16”.

Jesus = Condemnation Antidote

He clearly tells us that his purpose was not to condemn when he came into the world. (Notice, he didn’t say condemnation wasn’t happening. Just that it wasn’t his purpose.) What he is teaching is this: The antidote for condemnation is faith in Christ. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned…” It’s like condemnation is a poison, infecting all humans everywhere, and he came to bring the antidote, the cure…faith in His Name.

Paul says something similar in Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” It’s not there. We do not live under condemnation if we are in Christ! Hallelujah!

Imagine a condemned criminal that is pardoned. The Governor, actually the “President” fits better, signs his pardon and he is legally restored to all the privileges and rights of citizens. His status as a criminal has changed. His identity as a citizen is restored. That is what is meant by the ending of condemnation!

Condemnation is not Conviction

Condemnation involves passing a sentence of punishment. The Greek word “kreeno” means to distinguish, decide, try, condemn. A just condemnation falls upon the unrepentant sinner. Jesus mentions that the person who loves darkness rather than light is condemned already. It is the violation of God’s law that brings about condemnation.

However, conviction of sin is something the Holy Spirit brings upon people to stop them from evil, damaging, destructive behaviors or attitudes. Just because you feel guilty doesn’t mean it is condemnation. It could be the Holy Spirit trying to convict you (or convince you) of sin in your life. Don’t run away from that. Lean into it, and follow the path of repentance.

And don’t accuse someone of “condemnation” or “judgement” if they are simply telling you the Truth in love. If I tell you what the Judge has said, I am not casting judgement. I did not set myself up as judge, just a faithful messenger communicating what the Judge has decided.

2 Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

Faith is the victory – but faith in what?

I’m so tired of generic faith statements! “You can do anything if you just believe!” But believe in what? My abilities and talents? Bad idea. I cannot dig my way out of this hole. In whom? Buddah? Presidents? Celebrities? That’s not working out for anyone, trust me. Where do we put our faith?

Faith in his Name! And by extension, faith in what He (Jesus) has done for me! Faith that my identity as a “sinner” is swallowed up in my new identity as a Child of God, delivered and redeemed. This is, in my view, perhaps the most vital key to fighting condemnation in our soul: Knowing who I am in Christ!

So you wanna know who you are?

Romans 5:8 – “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (loved in sin, we are worth dying to save)

Romans 8:15 – “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  (Sons/Daughters)

Galatians 4:6-7 – “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (An Heir of God)

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (New Creation)

1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (Royal, Holy, Priests, His People, Proclaimers, Those in the light!)

Colossians 1:21-23 – “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach (literally, unaccused) before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” (Reconciled, holy, blameless, above reproach) [emphasis mine]

Notice in that last verse again the connection between faith and freedom from condemnation. It’s as if our identity is really and actually changed, but we must believe that is true to make it real in our own experience.

We must not shift from the hope of the gospel, which is truly that Jesus has done it all! It is his work that makes us new creatures! He has reconciled us and “translated us” into his Kingdom. I must believe that he has paid for my sins, and therefore I “go and sin no more” as he said to the woman caught in adultery. I must also believe that he has changed my identity, and that who I am in Christ is totally different now than what I once was.

This is the way we fight condemnation in ourselves – by faith in His Name!