When Condemnation Knocks

When my wife and I bought our first house, apparently the previous tenant owed money to creditors.  Our neighbour divulged it was not uncommon for her to have a "new car every week" only to have it towed away from the driveway.  Then something unsettling happened:  a creditor showed up on two occasions when I wasn't home with the intent to repossess the furniture the previous tenant had bought on credit.  My wife explained how the house had been sold and we had no contact with the previous tenant, but he was undeterred.  He did not believe she was telling the truth and wanted to enter the house to find the lounge and bedroom set he imagined was hidden inside.  Having refused his demand to come in, my wife told him if he wanted access to the premises he would need to contact the police.

In preparing for this week's sermon I was reminded of this incident from the past and realised for a lot of Christians who have been born again and forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ it is a present reality.  Jesus Christ has provided atonement to pay for our sins, yet the accusing voices of self, Satan, and others can ring in our ears over past sins.  That creditor had no business entering the house to have a look inside:  we were not guilty of missing a single payment because we didn't owe him anything!  Now it is true we are all guilty of sin before God, but we do not owe Satan anything.  We do not need to entertain his sweet talk, threats, insinuations, or condemning tone for one second as children of God.  We can say on the authority of Jesus, "Talk to my Father" and let Him handle it.  Because of what Jesus accomplished on Calvary we are freely forgiven, rendered righteous, and can affirm what Paul wrote in Romans 8:1:  "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."  For all who are in Christ Jesus by grace through faith, there is no condemnation of us from God.

The word "condemnation" in the Strong's Concordance means simply, "an adverse sentence."  After trusting in Jesus Christ our life is hid with Christ in God.  We are crucified with Christ and the life we now live in the flesh is by the faith in Jesus Christ who is our Saviour and King.  We are released from the guilt of the past which attempts to mock us as we are reminded of our grave sins and errors.  Like Ishmael and Hagar were sent packing by Abraham, so we can do with the reminders of our sinful past which seem to plague our memory.  Every thought contrary to Jesus Christ can be taken captive to the obedience of Christ because the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross with Jesus, putting an end to its power over us (2 Corinthians 10:1-6, Colossians 2:13-15).  Having repented of our sin and received forgiveness through faith in Jesus, we are free indeed.

We are free from the guilt of sin and free to do the good works God has prepared for us to do.  Let us not confuse condemnation with conviction, as responding to conviction of sin with repentance is one of those good works.  The Holy Spirit has been sent to convict all the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, the same world God loved and sent His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to save.  Not one of us is perfect since we live is a failing, ageing physical body which will see corruption, yet let us not forget the sure promise of being raised incorruptible with Jesus Christ!  Believer, when Condemnation comes knocking at the door of your heart do not give an inch, for he is at the wrong address.  Bid him be on his way!  You do not owe Condemnation a thing, for even he must answer to Jesus.