CONDEMNATION AND REMORSE
Definitions: Condemnation is a pronouncement of guilt; a strong expression of disapproval; doom. Remorse is the keen pain or anguish resulting from a sense of guilt; painful memory of wrongdoing. In terms of Christian faith, condemnation and remorse often result from not accepting or believing that we have been forgiven for mistakes and sins, even though confessed.
1. The difference between conviction and condemnation: the Devil tries to make us feel condemned so that we will become discouraged and give up; the Lord convicts us that we might repent, change and go on for Him.
Genesis 4:6,7 [In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain became extremely angry with envy, but the Lord cautioned him, yet encouraged him that if he’d repent, God would accept him, but that sin was trying to rule over him:] And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. [Sin desires to overcome you, but you can overcome it]
Psalm 37:32,33 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemnhim when he is judged.
Psalm 109:31 For [God] shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
Psalm 130:3,4 If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.
Ezekiel 18:21-23 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? [See also 33:10,11]
1 Corinthians 11:31,32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
2 Corinthians 7:10 [Being convicted of sin leads to repentance. But self-pity, remorse, and wounded pride discourage and weaken you:] Godly sorrow worketh repentance to Salvation not to be repented of [regretted]: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come Salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren [the Devil] is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
2. To overcome condemnation and remorse, first begin with a clear conscience by confessing your sins.
2 Samuel 24:10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people [which God had told him not to do]. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
Job 34:31,32 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: 32 That which I see not teach Thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
Psalm 32:3-5 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite [humbly sorry, penitent] spirit. [See also 51:17]
Psalm 38:4,6,9,18 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 9 Lord, all my desire is before Thee; and my groaning is not hid from Thee. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Psalm 51:3,10 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 73:21-23 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins [conscience stricken]. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Isaiah 55:6,7 Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Jeremiah 3:12b,13a I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.
Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? [See also 18:8]
2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. [See verses 8-11; 2 Chronicles 7:14]
[See also Confessing Faults and Mistakes, #5]
3. Believe and accept that the blood of Jesus cleanses us fromevery sin, by faith.
John 3:17,18a For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18a He that believeth on Him is not condemned.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
1 John 1:7b,9 The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4. Once we’ve confessed and repented, God doesn’t remember our sins; neither should we!
Psalm 103:9-13 He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the Heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.
Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.
Jeremiah 31:34 I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. [See also Hebrews 8:12; 10:17]
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [See also 5:1]
1 John 3:19-21 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
5. We must not continue to condemn ourselves, even if we feel that others may have not yet “forgiven and forgotten.”
Isaiah 50:9a Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me?
Romans 8:33,34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
6. Remorse and condemnation bear no good fruit! We should acknowledge our sin, accept God’s forgiveness, and get on with living for His honour and glory.
Psalm 51:12,13 Restore unto me the joy of Thy Salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
John 8:11b [Jesus said to the adulteress:] Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
2 Corinthians 2:7b,8 [We should likewise forgive others, so that they don’t fall into condemnation and remorse] Ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
Philippians 3:13b,14 Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:11-13 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
…
