You Are Free From Any Condemning Charges
I used to be the king of self-condemnation.
In fact, I pretty much hated myself because I was stuck in sin and could not overcome it. Whenever I fell into this pattern of sin, guilt and shame quickly followed. I would beat myself up mentally and sometimes even verbally.
Thankfully, through the message of Freedom in Christ, I came to see that the condemnation had a spiritual root. I learned to fight the battle with God’s strength, grounded in His truth and secure in my identity as His child through Jesus’ finished work on the Cross.
That was also the first step in overcoming the sin habits and patterns which developed in my teenage years. Praise God that I've been walking free for over 20 years!
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more that that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:31-34, NIV)
This passage explains that there are three different sources of condemning charges coming against us that we need to learn to overcome: the enemy, ourselves, and other people.
First is the enemy of our souls. The Apostle John heard a voice in heaven call our enemy the Accuser of the brothers (Revelation 12:10). And how can he be overcome? By the “blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11a). Our only defense is Jesus Christ and His shed blood for us. At the same time, we testify to His finished work on the Cross and our union with Him by growing in Christ-likeness.
Second, we must learn not to condemn ourselves and agree with the enemy. I got so good at condemning myself that I could just about picture Satan simply pushing the ‘Easy Button’ and letting me run with thoughts against myself. I had to learn that thinking condemning thoughts against myself put me at odds with God Himself because I was going against what he said. And whenever you or I disagree with God, who is right? I hate to break it to you… it’s not us.
The solution? Repentance, which is simply a change of mind that leads to a change of behavior. So, I started bringing my thoughts in line with what God says is true. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? … Who then is the one who condemns?” Jesus himself said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:17-18, NIV)
Our testimony is this: ‘Lord Jesus, I believe in you and your finished work. You died on the cross for my sin and rose from the grave proving you can give me life. I confess I have sinned. Thank you for your forgiveness. I place all my trust in you alone. I acknowledge that my acceptance, security and significance are not based upon my accomplishments or behavior, but because you have justified me and continue to intercede for me. Thank you that you love me and have made me your child by faith.’
The third source of condemnation is other people. In ministry, I realized I was receiving condemnation from others in the name of “humility and a willingness to learn.” I don’t have all the answers, so I listen to what others have to say. But, when people are giving us counsel, there is a huge difference between offering their wisdom versus putting us down and making us feel ‘less than.’
It’s important to differentiate between conviction of wrong and condemnation. You can tell by what it produces in your life. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NIV) says, “yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
The feeling is the same (sorrow). So how do you tell the difference? By what that sorrow is producing in your life.
Dear Saints, you must refuse to receive condemning charges from anyone, whether that’s the enemy, yourself, or others. Jesus is your defense attorney; no one can bring any charges against you!
When you do sin, accept conviction, then rely on Christ’s power and your union with Him to keep growing in Christ. God is for you and will graciously give you all you need!