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Knowing The Difference Between Condemnation and Conviction
Have you always struggled with knowing the difference between condemnation and conviction? The Word of God gives us a clear distinction of the difference between the two. The Book of John gives us a clear understanding that Jesus does not condemn. Jesus reason for coming into this world was to bring it salvation though Him.
John 3:16-17
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.
When Holy Spirit Speaks We Must Listen
Holy Spirit is the breath of God and the spirit of truth. He brings all things back to our remembrance as He leads and guides us into all truth. It is this truth that in turn speaks to our conscience. When Holy Spirit speaks, the truth convicts us to bring us into correction and right standing with God. When Holy Spirit is convicting you, pay attention!
Understanding the difference between condemnation and conviction will help you in discerning the voice of God. Condemnation judges and conviction corrects. Allow the Lord to correct and cut away the dead things in your life. This will open the way for new growth and development in Him.
Scripture Reference
John 8:3-12
Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one. Beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Jesus raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman. He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Get Back On Top
As we see in the above scripture, the Lord does not condemn us, but we are however convicted by our conscience. The things that we know to be right and the things we have been taught to do right will be the very things that will come back to convict us and bring us back into right standing and position in God.
The word repent means to “get back on top” RE: Get Back – PENT: On Top
Holy Spirit is here to help us get back on top the way that Father created us to be originally. On top and having dominion over all things. When we repent, Holy Spirit helps us to turn around, get back on top and change the course in which we are walking back to the path of righteousness. Convictions acts as a red flag or a signal that you are no longer on top.
Return To Your Rightful Place
Condemnation comes from the mouth of Satan. One of Satan’s names is The Accuser of The Brethren. He stands before the Lord and accuses us of everything we have done wrong wrong With condemnation comes fear, depression, guilt and shame. The Word of God tells us that we also condemn ourselves by the idle words we speak.
Matthew 12:36-37
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
As we grow in our walk with the Lord we will be able to discern more quickly when it is conviction from the Holy Spirit or condemnation from the enemy. The Word of God tells us that when we are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation in Him. In Christ we have Resurrection life – newness of life to get back up again after the law of sin and death. When we follow Christ we have the light of life.
The Lord Clothes Us In His Righteousness
It is important that we understand the difference between condemnation and conviction because this is where many saints of God lose the battle…is in the mind. If Satan can get you to think that you can never be clean and right before God then he takes away all your hope. Like Joshua The High Priest, the Lord Jesus will cloth us in His righteousness. He removes all the filthy garments of sin and shame from us and gives us a clean robe. Our clean garments cover us and the clean turbans put on our heads keep our minds right and renewed in Him. The turban represents our spiritual armor. The helmet of salvation guards our minds against spiritual attacks of condemnation from the enemy.
Scripture Reference
Zechariah 3:1-7
Then the Angel showed me (in my vision) Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord; and Satan was there too, at the Angel’s right hand, accusing Joshua of many things.
And the Lord said to Satan, “I reject your accusations, Satan; yes, I, the Lord, for I have decided to be merciful to Jerusalem—I rebuke you. I have decreed mercy to Joshua and his nation; they are like a burning stick pulled out of the fire.”
Joshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood before the Angel of the Lord.
Then the Angel said to the others standing there, “Remove his filthy clothing.” And turning to Joshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”
Then I said, “Please, could he also have a clean turban on his head?” So they gave him one.
Then the Angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Joshua and said, “The Lord Almighty declares: ‘If you will follow the paths I set for you and do all I tell you to, then I will put you in charge of my Temple, to keep it holy; and I will let you walk in and out of my presence with these angels.
Walk In The Light of Jesus
Knowing the difference between condemnation and conviction will help us to continue to walk in the light of Jesus. As we keep a repentant heart before Him, we don’t ever need to worry about being condemned. As our conscience convicts us, we will be obedient to correct those things that need to be corrected, get back up and continue to walk forth in His righteousness. Satan and his seed on the other hand will be condemned.
John 3:17-20
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
Scripture References:
Proverbs 12:2
The good person obtains favor from the Lord, but He condemns a man who schemes.
Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.
Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
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