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As a Christian, have you ever done something that you know you probably should not have done? Have you ever felt that God was angry with you for your actions, even after repenting of it?
I am sure that many of you can attest to experiencing this — but what make this thing even worse it that this feeling can last days, months, or even years if it goes unchecked. Can you imagine the torment of always being reminded and attacked because of your of past mistakes?
The Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul) is an excellent example of someone who was plagued by the mistakes of his past — he undoubtedly spent the first half of his life hunting down (and killing) his Christian brother’s and sisters. Being human, we can only imagine that he would sometimes look back and remember the things that he had done in his past — but what is even more powerful is what he told the Church in Philippi regarding his past and those things that are behind him.
(Philippians 3:13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(Philippians 3:14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Here we can see that Paul has taken a firm grasp on the freedom, liberty, and most importantly — the MERCY that we have received from our God through his son Jesus Christ.
If you find yourself being troubled by the things in your past — then you have not fully grasped this concept. Therefore If you want to learn how to defeat this spirit of condemnation and fully embrace the freedom and liberty that you have through Jesus Christ — Continue reading.
In this article we will address the main difference between Conviction and Condemnation, one is a gift from God — while the other is a weapon aimed at pulling you away from God.
One thing Christians commonly struggle with is the sense of guilt and shame that usually follows the moment that we fall short of God’s perfect standard. (The moment we sin)
Like many other Christians — when I first gave my life to Christ, when I would “mess up” — I would immediately feel as if I have somehow disappointed God or made him angry with me — this would not only make me miserably sad, but it would even make me question my own salvation.
But as I began to grow and mature in my walk with God, he began to teach me the difference between 2 crucial elements in the life of any believer.
The 2 crucial elements that God began to teach me about is Conviction vs Condemnation. Although the words may look similar, there are actually very big differences between the two.
These concepts are important to understand mainly because one of them is from God — while the other pretends to be from him, but really is not.
Conviction – Is from God.
Condemnation – Is from Satan.
Conviction is the feeling that you feel once you have done something wrong that makes you want to apologize to God or whomever you’ve offended. The Bible tells us that the Spirit of God convicts us in order to lead us to repentance. But once we repent, his spirit stops convicting us and lavishes us in his grace, love, and his mercy.
(Romans 2:4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Condemnation on the other hand tends to occur right after you have asked for forgiveness. It is the nagging guilt that won’t go away no matter how many times you repent, apologize, and no matter how many times you try to forget about it.
If you repent of your sin yet still feel guilty of them — then that is no longer God’s spirit of conviction that is causing the guilt — but it is now the spirit of condemnation that is trying to attach itself to you.This spirit is NOT of God and should be rebuked.
If you do not rebuke this spirit of Condemnation and correct your way of thinking — It will continue to torture you (as it did me).
The Bible tells us that there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ and to those who desire to walk by the Spirit and not the flesh. (Those who desire to live righteously)
(Romans 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Another key difference between Conviction and Condemnation is that that Conviction moves us closer to God. It makes us seek him, it makes us repent, it makes us want to do better, It makes us want to get closer.
Condemnation on the other hand tries to pull us away from God. It makes us ashamed, it makes us sad, it makes us want to hide, it makes us depressed, and most importantly it makes us want to QUIT.
The worst thing we can think when we make a mistake is that God is angry with or disappointed in us — not only because it is not true, but because that condemnation pulls us away from God.
Instead of causing us to seek God, The guilt and shame causes us to hide from him.
But this is not what God wants us to do when we sin, he wants us to run TO him — not from him.
We can observe this in the book of Genesis with Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3)
When they sinned against God, they immediately felt condemned and hid themselves in their shame.
(Genesis 3:7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
(Genesis 3:8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
(Genesis 3:9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
The bible tells us that when they ate from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil — they realized that they were naked and were Ashamed and hid from God. It was their Nakedness (sin) that caused them to hide from God (condemnation).
But what is breathtaking is the fact that although they were hiding from God because of their sin — The first thing that God said to them was…
“Where Are You?”
Now of course we know that God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were both hiding, but him asking “Where are you” was symbolic. It symbolized a loving God that is willing to seek out the children that are lost.
Unfortunately, Christians today sometimes behave as Adam and Eve did the moment they sinned — they hide themselves from God amongst the trees in the garden (in the world) because they feel as if they have let God down or made him angry.
The answer is no.
Let me explain, Although the scriptures tell us that God is angry with the wicked every day (Pslam 7:11) — this is not the same as when a believer sins.
Although Christians are not perfected — Because we place our faith in he who was perfect (Jesus), it is counted to us as righteousness even as Abraham’s faith was counted unto him as righteousness.
(Genesis 15:6) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
(Romans 4:3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Any Christian will agree that God knows everything — even the things that have not yet happened. The Bible even tells us that God knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb (Psalm 193:13/Jeremiah 1:5).
Therefore If God already knew us before we were born — Isn’t it safe to say that he already knows every sin we will ever commit as well?
Therefore how can God be upset and/or disappointed with us over something that he already knew we would do before we were born?
The answer is “He is not”.
The bible tells us that God saw our sins afar off, that is why he sent is son to die for our sins. God was angry with us, but he caused his anger to fall upon his son that we might be freed from our sin and his judgement upon sin.
(Isaiah 53:4) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
(Isaiah 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Here we can see that the prophet Isaiah prophesied of the death of Jesus and how through his pain and affliction, we would be restored to God. Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity — and It was he who God’s anger fell upon, not Us.
Therefore how can God be angry with us when we sin if Jesus has already paid the price of our sin?
God Forbid. Because if he did, then that would mean that Jesus died in vain. But we know that he did NOT die in vain, but he was the final and perfect sacrifice.
(John 3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(John 3:15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
So as a Christian, If you fall short of God’s perfect standard and feel yourself wondering whether God is angry or disappointed, remember — Jesus Paid It All.
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