Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,
because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law
of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2
In the
realm of human experience, there are positive emotions – “I feel happy,
affirmed, contented, hopeful", and there are painful emotions – “I feel embarrassed, used,
neglected, frustrated." Though no
one wants to experience painful emotions, they are a natural part of life. No one wants to be embarrassed, used,
frustrated, or neglected, but most people realize that, to some extent, painful
emotions are inevitable.
But there
is one heart-wrenching, spiritually-debilitating emotion that God never wants us
to experience, one that we should never accept as just a part of life:
condemnation. Condemnation means to
judge as unfit, to pronounce sentence, punishment, or judgment. It is simply, to damn. Condemnation says I remember you in a
negative way each time I think of you and regardless of who you are now.
In the
life of a believer, this sense of worthlessness is not from God. There is no condemnation because Christ took
the sentence, punishment, and judgment for our sin. Condemnation might cause us
to think:
• I can't do anything right.
• I'll never be as good as other people.
• I'm a terrible person.
• I'm not important to anyone.
• It's my entire fault.
• I'm not worthy of receiving your love.
In
contrast, God would say to us:
• Your soul is more valuable than everything that is
in the world (Luke
9:25).
• I loved and valued you so much that I gave my Son
for you (John
3:16).
• I have accepted you, just as you are (Romans 5:8, 15:7).
• You are of great value to me (Matthew 6:25-34).
It’s
important to know the difference between condemnation and conviction. True conviction is good for us (healthy
thoughts and emotions that lead us to repentance), but thoughts and feelings of
condemnation are unhealthy. Relative to
the source of condemnation and conviction: Condemnation comes from Satan,
others, and our personal conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) ministers
condemnation, not
conviction.
Many
people suffer under the burden of condemnation; it clings to their soul like
barnacles on the side of a ship. It is
part of Satan's strategy to "kill, steal, and destroy the abundant life that God has promised
us (John 10:10). God desires that we be set
free from feelings of condemnation we have encountered in the past, that we not
minister condemnation to others, and that we become lovingly involved in
helping others be set free.
Scripture
to Claim:
Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be
free. John 8:36
