Freedom From Condemnation

It is possible to be completely free from condemnation.

“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).

Condemnation happens when someone is judged against for having committed a crime.

Every person has sinned. God passes judgment against all who break his law. Every person has been guilty before God, and all have been under God’s condemnation.

A condemned criminal can feel guilt, shame, remorse, and regret. He may be embarrassed. He might feel like he is a failure or a burden. 

It’s a great thing to be free from condemnation and its associated burdens.

There is only one person who was never under condemnation from God – Jesus Christ. Jesus is not under condemnation because he is perfect and never sinned. 

The only way to be free from condemnation is when we are inside Jesus Christ.

When we believe in Jesus and are born again, we become part of the body of Christ. We are of his flesh and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30). As a part of Christ, we are free from condemnation. We celebrate our union with Christ when we fellowship with God’s people and share the Lord’s Supper.

To remain free from condemnation we must walk according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh. When we walk according to the Spirit, we live according to God’s will. Then we are not under the law because we are obeying God already. Even if we mess up, God is merciful. If we confess our sins, he will forgive us.

God’s judgment is the only judgment that matters. If God doesn’t condemn us, then we are free from condemnation. 

The Holy Spirit might convict us of sin, but there is a difference between conviction and condemnation. Conviction from God leads to repentance and hope. Condemnation is hopeless.

Sometimes Christians feel condemned, even though the Bible says they are not condemned. A false feeling of condemnation can come from three sources.

First, Satan condemns us. He slanders and speaks against us. He is an accuser. He reminds us of our past failures and our present problems. He wants to heap sorrow and depression on us. We must reject these lies. We are not under condemnation because we are in Christ.

Second, other people can condemn us. They can judge us and think that we don’t measure up. But it doesn’t really matter what other people think. What matters is what God thinks.

Third, we can condemn ourselves. We may harbor regrets or keep remembering our past failures. Our own minds and thoughts can condemn us even when God does not. We need to renew our minds with the word of God, so we judge things according to God, not according to our own thoughts.

As we grow in spiritual maturity, God matters more and more and other things matter less and less. Condemnation from Satan, other people, and ourselves will become less important. Eventually, the only judgment that matters is God’s judgment. 

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 4:3).

Paul said that it was a small thing for him to be judged by others and that he didn’t even judge himself. All he cared about was God’s judgment. And God said he was not condemned.

God says that if we are in Christ and walk according to the Spirit, we are free from condemnation. This is God’s final sentence about us. When we stand before his throne, he will see us as a part of his beloved Son. This is a very freeing thought, both in eternity and right now.