Let’s talk GUILT! And Conviction Vs CondemnationFeatured Scripture and Commentary:
Romans 8:1 (NIV): “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1 (NIV): “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Can it get more absolute, cut and dry, black and white than that? “NO condemnation”. Zero zilch nada. Yay!
But what about these feelings?? We the people of the faith all get them. And then what do we do? Feel guilty for
refusing the precious grace and gift of Jesus in deference to dark feelings of guilt? Well we could but that would
be even worse. How do we resolve this?
Your child acts up and you realize that you forgot to teach them about that one
and a decade or two of loving nurturing is outweighed by some aspect of insufficiency that you observe in yourself. Especially
when you see that which your child is now struggling with was an unfortunate gift you exhibit in yourself and passed on to them.
GUILTY!
The cat dies in your arms at the vet. Put to sleep by your decision. But is it an act of mercy or premeditated euthanasia murder of a loved one?
What about all the times she was keeping you up at night screaming and your response was to tell her to shut up and to remind yourself that
she is just a cat being a cat? What about all the reverse sneezing that looks like an epileptic seizure or the weight loss? It mounts up
and you realize that you FAILED this beloved creature that you kept alive and well and happy for 15 years? GUILT!!!
Shall I continue? Are you feeling convicted or condemned?
There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Yet there is condemnation in your heart? Where did it come from? Here is a chart to compare condemnation and conviction which I hope will make it clear. I confess (so as to not feel guilty) I borrowed this from the internet but it was too well done for me to tinker with it and make it my own.
Keep this in mind though as the essential difference or key distinction:
Conviction says, “What you did was wrong; come back.you are loved”
Condemnation says, “You are wrong; stay away. stay far away. don’t come back”
I am not going to be one to tell you to not to feel guilty (especially if your sinful act was against me – joke) but Jesus did when he died for, let’s sum it up as, imperfections since we are being gracious and kind today. Perhaps the comparing of the two can help you deal with righteous conviction and unholy condemnation. They are entirely 180 degrees at the opposite ends of the spectrum.
Now let’s consider some related scripture.
1 John 1:9 (NIV): “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV): “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
1 John 3:19-20 (NIV): “This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Psalm 32:1–2 (NIV): “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”
Hebrews 10:22 (NIV): “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Isaiah 43:25 (NIV): “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
Prayer for whomsoevers:
Father God we who attend church regularly say at least once weekly the Anglican prayer of confession and so I have included it here:
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
And so Lord I wanting to walk in your ways always and forever will carry this with me and I say it now with whomsoever is reading this.
Please forgive me. It was not my conscious intention to rebuke your grace. Forbid. Help me stay open, faithful, obedient and in your favor. If I slip please help guide my path forever and always. We love you and your Son and we thank you for the Holy Spirit. Amen.
