Self-Condemnation versus Conviction.
What is the difference?
Self- Condemnation is after a person sins or makes a mistake they end up expressing complete disapproval of themselves by strongly criticizing themselves in an unhealthy manner.
Conviction is when a person sins (this can include personal convictions as well) & they are made aware of it by the Holy Spirit.
If you or someone you know is dealing with and/or struggling with the spirit of condemnation we’ve got a few discernment truths and a 7 key break down of how to overcome it. Of course deliverance is not always cookie cutter, but we pray this blog (which is linked to a podcast (feel free to tune in)) will help you or someone you know to acquire biblical knowledge, gain understanding, and walk in wisdom with the truths and keys that have been attained. Remember we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and Jesus has given us the authority to trample on scorpions and serpents (Luke 10:19). So condemnation does not have us, we trample on that thing in Jesus' name!
Let’s get into it!
Discernment Truths - Condemnation vs. Conviction Break Downs:
#1) The spirit of Condemnation is derived from Satan:
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.”
With Romans 8:1, we see that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Which leads us to the question of... “If there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, then what does that make those who are not in Christ Jesus?”
Unfortunately the answer is condemned.
Remember, this truth... that when we are in Christ Jesus, we are in Christ Jesus. It’s plain and simple. The enemy will try to twist scripture and try to trick us into not believing the truth. But scripture is very clear in showing us that we are not condemned when we are in Christ. Yes we may fall, but we must always remember the gift of true repentance, the blood of Jesus, and His forgiveness.
#2) Conviction is derived from the Holy Spirit:
John 16:7-11 - “7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
In John 16:8-11, Jesus is comforting his disciples to this simple yet profound truth that it is to their advantage that He (Jesus) goes away because the Holy Spirit will come. And once the Holy Spirit comes, then that would mean that He (the Holy Spirit) would bring conviction, guide them into all truth, tell them things to come, and glorify Jesus (John 16:7-15).
And because Jesus said this to His disciples we should be encouraged and comforted just the same if not more than they were because we do not have to tarry for the Holy Spirit! We have the Holy Spirit with us now (Acts 2:1-4)!
We are never alone and we are in good hands no matter what the Holy Spirit convicts us of, guides us into, and/or tells us.
#3) The spirit of Condemnation attacks the disciples character & calls them outside of their name/ who they are not in Christ Jesus:
The spirit of condemnation’s (really any spirits) goal is to maintain spiritual death to the individual it is inhabiting (a person in the world) or bring spiritual death to the individual it is influencing (a disciple). And one of the ways for it to try to attain that goal is to mask degrading one’s character/ self-hate / self-oppression as self-reflecting.
Remember self-reflection is healthy until it is not. We can acknowledge that we made a mistake then repent, and ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome and take the way of escape the next time temptation arises. But the degrading of character, self-hate, and self-oppression is simply not healthy.
#4) Conviction will develop character and call you by name:
Develops Character -
John 16:13-15: “13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
Calls us by our name -
John 10:3: “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
The Holy Spirit’s job is to glorify Jesus, therefore He wants us to be more like Jesus so that we can keep glorifying Jesus.
#5) The spirit of Condemnation gives an illusion of hopelessness:
The spirit of Condemnation tries to trick the disciple into thinking that their sin or mistake is completely unforgivable. And in order for us to be forgiven we must earn our way to be forgiven by doing x,y,z. But that is a straight lie. Yes, all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But there is nothing that cannot be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. All we need to do is have a true heart of repentance and the blood of Jesus will wash away any crimson stain (1 John 1:7). Which leads us to our next point...
#6) Conviction provides hope:
HOPE HAS A NAME & IT IS JESUS (1 Peter 1:3)!
Yes we were born into sin... BUT GOD:
Ephesians 2: 1-10 - “1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
BUT GOD: John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
BUT GOD: 1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
BUT GOD: Ephesians 1:7 - “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
How to overcome if we have fallen and are dealing with self- condemnation:
#1) Acknowledge the sin and/or mistake for what it is:
This step takes a lot of humility. If we can just acknowledge it for what it is, instead of trying to mask it or be in denial, we end up being one step closer to being set free from condemnation! :)
#2) Repent:
Repentance is an action that we need to do on our part by making a change in our hearts and minds to decide to no longer do the thing that is displeasing to God. God will give us the grace to overcome, but we just need to humble ourselves and take accountability.
2 Chronicles 7:14: “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Unfortunately AFTER REPENTANCE, CONDEMNATION MAY STILL TRY TO CONDEMN because of belief
This is where we need to proceed with the next steps below...
#3) Discern the 4 voices:
Discerning the 4 voices below will help us take EVERY thought captive into the obedience of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
World (people that are separated from God, a godless society):
Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Devil
John 8:44: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Flesh
Romans 7: 15-20: “15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”
God
John 10:27: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
#4) Take EVERY thought captive into the obedience of Jesus Christ:
There is a saying that has been going around that, “We cannot control what flies through our mind, but we can control what lands on our mind.” Meaning that we have control over the thoughts that we meditate on. We can either decide to meditate on unfruitfulness, like condemning thoughts of self-hate or focus on the truth of who we are in Christ when we repent.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6: “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
#5) Believe the power of the blood of Jesus & His forgiveness (aka: the truth):
Jesus was crucified on the cross, buried, and rose again on the third day! And He is still alive and will forever be! Which means that the power of the blood of Jesus and His forgiveness is everlasting! All we got to do on our part is repent and then believe the truth. The enemy will try so hard to attack and trick the disciple into thinking there is no power in the blood of Jesus or forgiveness left for the thing(s) that were done. But that is totally not true because God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19) and the word of God never fades away like flowers or grass (Isaiah 40:8), it lives on forever.
Which means His truth lives on forever! So believe it! :)
1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Ephesians 1:7 - “ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
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.”
6) Fix our eyes on Jesus:
We are to focus on Jesus no matter the circumstance because at the end of the day He is the author and the finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:2 - “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
7) Decide to move forward because “It is Finished!” (John 19:30):
Once we had repented, we’ve got to leave the past where it belongs. Of course we can learn from our past, but we don’t stay there. If God blots out our sins and remembers them no more (Isaiah 43:2, Hebrews 8:12) then why should we?
Philippians 3:12-14 - “12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
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