CONVICTION NOT CONDEMNATION

 3-4Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”

They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”

5Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself

Matthew 27:1-5 (MSG)

Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and cried and cried and cried. (Matthew 26:75 MSG)

Two men who were disciples of Jesus. One became the Rock upon which the Church was built (Matt 16:18) while the other went to ‘his’ place (Acts 1:25). 

Two men who essentially committed the same sin -betrayal of Jesus. Both betrayed Jesus with their lips -one with his lips while the other with his words. 

How come one was replaced while the other was restored? Both were remorseful for their actions. One repented and was restored the other was drowned by sorrow.

Saul and David. Two men who God appointed and anointed as King over Israel. Two men who sinned against the Lord. One was rejected the other was restored. 1 Samuel 15 tells the story of Saul and Samuel and how God rejected him for not doing what he was asked to do by God. David is a man whose sins are well documented. A failed parent (2 Samuel 13:21), a man whose hands were full of blood (1 Chron 28:3) who disobeyed God quite a few times (1 Chron 21) but seemed to get away with it every time. Saul was remorseful and seemingly repented for his sins as recorded in 1 Sam 15. David’s prayer in Psalm 51 is his confession and repentance for one of his many sins. God accepted his prayer. God rejected Saul’s sacrifice. 

The Christian journey is very much a pilgrim’s progress.One full of treacherous paths and getting to your destination is not guaranteed. Only those who faint not get there. It is reminiscent of the words of Jesus, that the road is narrow and few find it. Matthew 7:14. Most times, you will feel like Peter or Judas. You promised just yesterday that you are not going to do THAT again. But here you are; you are smack right back in. You pick yourself up and you do ‘right’ by your own standards only to fall back again albeit a few days nay weeks even months later. It takes you back to that feeling of hopelessness. You and I are Peter and Judas. We are disciples but we betray Him. We often than not feel like we are crucifying Him all over again. (Heb 6:6). We are anointed like Saul or David but we find ourselves in those compromising situations. These men were insiders, not bystanders, they were very much the inner circle. We are not talking about ‘unbelievers’ but men who had been set apart for God’s work. Really just like me and you. It is inevitable that we will fall short of God’s purpose and plan for our lives. Yet their reaction when they fell determined their destinies. Those were the defining moments. How we respond when we fall very much determines where we end up. 

These two men demonstrate the difference between condemnation and conviction. What is condemnation? What is conviction?

From its etymology, condemnation is essentially pronouncing judgement. It is punitive at its core. Conviction is to reprove, rebuke, to convince. In legal terms, conviction and condemnation are basically the same thing but you must go a little deeper to cite the difference. In a court of law, a man is convicted of his wrongdoing and then sentenced in a judgement. 

All we like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6) for all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Rom 3:23) but there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). We are like condemned men to die in the arena. There is no escape. We deserve this. Judgement is passed. 

Satan the accuser of Brethren (Rev 12:10) has presented himself to God (Job 1:6) armed with facts against you (Zech 3:1) awaiting your sentencing! You are not getting out of this. Your remorse is not enough. The facts speak for themselves. But just like in a court of law where new evidence can turn a conviction to freedom, Jesus our advocate (1 John 2:1) who pleads our case to the Father comes in and presents new facts. He takes your place. He takes your filthy robe and clothes you with His righteousness. You are pardoned. You are free!

John 16:8 tells us that the Holy Spirit will come to CONVICT us of sin, righteousness and judgement. In other words, He will distinguish between conviction and condemnation. He will show you your sin and lead you to repentance like David or Peter. The Spirit of God is the difference between being condemned and being convicted.

Conviction leads you to repentance (2 Cor 7:10); condemnation drives you to despair. condemnation says you are a wretched man, no one can save you. (Rom 7)

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (NKJV)

Conviction inspires you to keep pressing (Phil 3:13-14); condemnation tells you to quit. 

Conviction allows you to approach his throne with confidence (Heb 4:16); condemnation casts you away from his presence (Psalm 51:11)

Like the prodigal son, conviction shows you the answer; condemnation only shows you the problem. 

Today as we begin this month, let us remember that we who are in Christ, God has provided a way back to Him when we fall short of His glory when we sin, that there is a voice behind us saying, this is the way, walk in it. (Isaiah 30:21)

Don’t be like Judas or Saul who confessed their sin to men hoping God would hear, instead be like David or Peter, who took their remorse to Jesus. David says, Against You Only Have I sinned. Psalm 51:4

"Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." (NKJV) Heb 3:15. Though we stumble, let us not fall (Prov 37:24  and if we fall, let the conviction of the Holy Spirit work in us and may He help us rise again even if it is 7 more times. (Prov 24:16)