The Struggle with Condemnation

“I’m hopeless…”

“I’ll never change…”

“God will never forgive me…”

“I can’t do anything right…”

Have you ever found yourself saying those things? Is there a sin in your life that seems too great to overcome? Do you feel unworthy of forgiveness?

All of the above are words of condemnation.  Yet Romans 8:1 teaches us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.  So why do so many believers struggle with condemnation? The short answer:  a wrong focus or a limited understanding of the gospel.

The focus of self

As christians, we are tempted each day to focus on “self” and our own efforts concerning salvation.  For example, we naturally believe that we have to “do good” to earn and keep our salvation.  We naturally believe that sin has to be overcome by our own efforts .  We naturally believe that there are some sins too great for God to ever forgive .  This is a depiction of the sin nature we were born into, an exaltation of self over God.  Romans 5:12

However, if we are to think contrary to this, it means we must allow our minds to be transformed by the truths of the gospel.  Romans 12:2 is foundational for you and I to know!  The moment we repent of our sins and place our trust in Christ, our lives are no longer outside of Christ, but now found IN Him and His saving, sanctifying power.  This is good news!

I love what Paul says in Romans 7:21-25 when he expresses frustration about the sin problem.  Listen in :

“… I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.…Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! “

Paul recognizes the dilemma of sin yet his desperation turns to sheer joy when he sees the greater, victorious Jesus.  It’s here that he shows us where to turn in those moments of desperation and hopelessness.  We turn not to sinful self, but to a Savior who has paid the sin price in full, freed man from its grip and done away with the judgement and condemnation that it brings.

Look and keep looking to Jesus!

So above all, let us like Paul, see the glorious hope we have in Jesus.  We can do this by holding fast to the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9, in which a right standing before God comes only through “grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.”

Yes, let us look, and keep looking to Jesus, beloved.  Know, learn and meditate on gospel truths. When you sin, confess it, repent and ask God for forgiveness.  He will forgive you!  And according to Philippians 1:6, God will finish the good work He started in you.  This truth should bring both hope and encouragement to the believer’s soul.

So silence the lies of condemnation by looking no longer to yourself but to Christ’s finished work on the cross.