Is it Conviction or Condemnation?

From the Word:

Click and Read John 16:5-15

Key Verse:

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth

- John 16:13a


I've finally been able to make it back to a Women's Bible Study, and it feels so good to be there. After my baby was born, it took a little bit of time to get our routine down enough for me to make it out of the house. It has been so good for me to be back in the Word and in fellowship with other women.

During the study a few weeks ago, we had a brief discussion about condemnation. It reminded me of my own personal struggle to understand the difference between condemnation and conviction.

When I was in the middle of grief over my miscarriages, I became acutely aware of my own failures and sin. Condemnation came in like a flood. At one point, I even believed I had identified a failure in my life that was responsible for all of the pain I was going through. I was convinced I was being punished. I was overcome with guilt over the issue and knew God must be so angry with me, too.

It took time in the Word and in prayer for me to be able to figure out the difference between spiritual attack and the heavy guilt and condemnation that can come with that, and the voice of conviction that often comes from the Holy Spirit when there is sin in our lives that needs addressing.

One of the easiest ways I found to discern the difference was to ask the question, "Where is this sending me?" Condemnation makes me flee from the Lord to hide my shame. Conviction draws me to God, puts me on my knees, and leads me to repentance and change. Condemnation brings feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, while conviction builds me up spiritually, shapes me and molds me into the woman God wants me to be, and makes me more effective for the Kingdom.

Personal Application:

If you are a believer in Jesus, and you are feeling condemnation, it is not from God. If past sins are haunting you, seek God for freedom. If you are enslaved to guilt and fear, you will not be effective for the Kingdom.

Condemnation and conviction differ in their source and in their purpose. Condemnation comes from the enemy but conviction comes from God. Conviction leads to repentance. Condemnation sends you running from God in shame. Conviction sends you running to God for change. We are commanded to live a holy life by God’s help, but we are not to live in a state of shame waiting for the axe to fall.

When we have strayed from God’s best for our lives and are living contrary to His ways, we open a door for Satan. We open a door for his temptation, accusation, and deceit. These things lead to further sin and estrangement from God. If you have unconfessed sin, confess it quickly. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Be done with it, stop doing it, and live free from it. After you have agreed with God that it is sin and turned from it in repentance, feel forgiven and move on. Stop expecting punishment and condemnation from the God who loves You and gave His life to prove it.

Father,

Thank You so much for the gift of grace You have given me. I am so grateful that there is no condemnation for me because I belong to Jesus. I desire to live a life that is holy and pleasing to You, by the power of your Holy Spirit, and for Your glory, not my own. When I need to be convicted of sin in my life, I pray I will recognize it and run to You, not from You. I pray the Enemy would fail in his attempts to use condemnation to render me ineffective for your Kingdom. Help me to know truth and to recognize lies. Mold me into the woman you want me to be. Thank you for your gentleness, faithfulness, and forgiveness.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen

More of God's Word

1. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down. -Revelation 12:10 (NIV)

2. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. -Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Love,