Romans Chapter 8: Verse 1 (NIV)
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans Chapter 8: Verse 34 (NIV)
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 8:34 got me thinking today. When I think of someone, or something that is condemned, I always think of someone, or something for which there is no hope. – the condemned man whose time has run out, the condemned building that gets demolished, and the condemned equipment that is no longer safe to use but ends up being thrown into a skip. But it also got me thinking about the difference between condemnation and conviction of sin. Satan is quick to condemn us, the thoughts that tell us that we’ve no hope, we’ve had our last chance, or we’ll never be any good, doesn’t come from God. After all. Paul tells us Jesus is interceding for us.
Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Bible Theology states that from the standpoint of semantics, condemnation is part of legal terminology. When it is discovered that a crime has been committed, that the law has been broken, the process of investigation may lead to formal charges being levied against a defendant. The process of litigation leads to the outcome, a verdict of acquittal or guilt. The verdict indicates that the defendant is either free from or accountable to the law’s penalty for that crime. Thus, the result is either vindication or condemnation. Condemnation can refer either to the legal status of liability to punishment or to the actual infliction of that punishment. At times the word is also used in a broader context to refer to negative evaluations of a person by peers or by one’s own conscience. This legal process is to some extent the background for biblical language about judgment and condemnation.
The same dictionary of Bible Theology tells us that conviction on the other hand means to convince of sin; to prove or determine to be guilty, as by the conscience. The act of convincing, or compelling one to admit the truth of a charge; the act of convincing of sin or sinfulness; the state of being convinced or convicted by conscience; the state of being sensible of guilt; as, the convictions of a sinner. By conviction, a sinner is brought to repentance and not sin against one’s own conscience. “Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit where a person is able to see themself as God sees them guilty, defiled, and totally unable to save themselves. (John 16:8). Conviction functions differently for the Christian and non-Christian. For the non-Christian, conviction reveals sinfulness, guilt and brings fear of God’s righteous judgement. Whereas, conviction in the believer brings an awareness of sin and results in repentance, confession and cleansing. God will never condemn us but He will convict us.
The most important thing for us to remember is that because of Christ we are never without hope or restoration even when we feel we have let Him down for the umpteenth time. He is still interceding for us.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that although our sins and actions condemn us, You never do, because You have made a way through Jesus to restore us to a right relationship with You. Help me never to point the finger of condemnation at anyone, rather to point them to Jesus so that they too can be restored. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.