5) Embracing the Father’s love: At some point in the battle
against condemnation we have to address the primary issue: fear. Condemnation is a tactic based on
fear—the fear of divine rejection and/or divine displeasure. The lie centers on the idea that we are
so bad that not even God can love us anymore. Obviously, when you analyze this lie systematically it
looses all credibility. Why
would God’s love towards as believers suddenly cease because of past
mistakes? This makes no sense in
light of the consistent testimony of the Scriptures that “while we were yet
sinners Christ died for us.” Jesus
died for us when we were at our worst.
He loved us when we were dead spiritually speaking.
His sacrificial
death on the cross isn’t based on anything that we have done or anything that
would could merit. It is because
of His great love towards us! And this love was demonstrated before we were
even born! His love is lavished on humanity independent of our response to it. Obviously, we must embrace this love
through some very specific instructions found in the Word: repentance through
faith. In that moment His
love becomes more than a theological fact; it becomes an experiential one that
transforms our life. The
amazing thing about the love of God is that according to John: “it casts out
all fear. (I John 4:18)” One
translation says that it “expels” fear.
As we embrace His love fear is chased out of our hearts—as already
stated this is make-up of condemnation.
Without fear, condemnation vanishes. If God really isn’t mad at me why should I be mad at myself?
If He isn’t condemning me why should I condemn myself?
The story of the
Prodigal Son if so beautiful in this process of helping our wounded hearts
understand the love of God. The
Prodigal wakes up smelling like a pig.
He lived a swine’s life having run from the safety and love of his
father’s household. In that
moment, he knew he had to return, but under different pretenses that
before. This time around he would
be a servant not a son. He would
punish himself for his wickedness.
For surely, his father could never tolerate him again. As he returns home the father sees him
coming and takes off running in his direction. While the son tries to wallow in
his self condemnation, the father doesn’t even give him the time of day. He orders the best ring, the best robe,
the best sandals, and a fattened calf killed for a party. What a picture of extravagant love in
the face of condemnation.
The most powerful way to overcome condemnation is to sit in the love of
God and let Him so captivate your heart with His goodness and kindness that
you simply can’t afford to wallow
in self pity any longer. His love
casts out the fear and your heart will soon be at rest.
6) Get rid of the source of condemnation: Up to this point we’ve talked about
external issues related to condemnation.
Let’s talk about some internal ones now. This is of extreme importance in overcoming
condemnation. Basically, we all have vulnerable places in our hearts that the
enemy exploits. It’s kind of like
a scab over a wound. Pick at it
long enough and it will bleed.
Once it starts bleeding, it gets messy. Likewise, as it relates to areas of in our lives. We are forgiven in Christ, but often
the temptation to go back to it again presents itself again and again and
again. The reason is because the
devil is trying to pick at our wounds.
Once they start bleeding, WHAM, here comes the condemnation thick and
heavy.
I don’t know what your wound is
where the enemy tries to assault you: over-eating, smoking, deception, lust,
alcohol, pornography, etc.. The
list is limitless. What I’ve
learned is identify the issue and then take steps to make sure that you don’t
revisit it. Obviously, I could write
an entire series on how to overcome hidden sins and maybe one day I will. For now, the idea I want to communicate
is this: if you steal the enemy’s ammunition for condemnation from him, it
makes it much more difficult for him to condemn you. I know, it’s not rocket science.
The verse that has helped me
tremendously along these lines is Romans 8:1. “Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus who walk not according to the lusts of the flesh, but according to the
Spirit.” I've heard several Christians quote this verse leaving out the last part. "There's no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus." Only problem? that's now what the verse says. You can be a Christian and be controlled by the lusts of your flesh and I promise you condemnation will just be one of your many problems. The key is learning to
walk in the Spirit by putting to death the desires of the flesh through the
cross. Again, a potential discussion for another article. Let's be clear: it
is possible to walk with no condemnation as we learn to walk with the Spirit by
staying away from the lusts of the flesh. As we implement this approach, the enemy has nothing to accuse us
with.
Let me also mention here the
difference between condemnation and conviction. If you are a Christian involved in sin (gratifying the lusts of the flesh to use Romans 8:1 terminology), then Holy Spirit has a
very clear role in your life—to convict you because He loves
you. If this is you, the best
approach is to repent and turn from your sin, the real definition of
repentance. In other words, don’t
get the two mixed up. One comes from hell, the other from heaven. One is
life-sucking, the other life-giving.
One pulls you closer to Jesus, the other further away. Conviction is wonderful even though it may be painful in the moment. Condemnation is oppressive both in this moment as well as in the next. Conviction is like a doctor searching for a sickness. He pushes on and says, "does it hurt here?" You wouldn't scream at him and say, "You quack what are you doing?" Rather, you would thank him for being thorough in his investigations to help you heal. Conviction is just the Holy Spirit poking us where it hurts because He wants us whole
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