Self-Condemnation
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Self-Condemnation
Rom. 14:17-23
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Are you like me – I often am feeling guilty, sometimes I don’t know why. Sometimes I can’t put my finger on it. I know I have a wicked heart – but need I feel so guilty. Every time a police car pulls up behind me I immediately fill guilty because I know that I have probably done something wrong.
Or maybe in church, maybe you feel like you are always picked on by the preacher.
I read this poem, and will repeat it for your enjoyment.
My pastor shapes his sermons
From A to final Z
In clear and forthright language,
And aims them straight at me.
And when he gets to preaching,
I look around to see
If there might be another
Deserving more than me.
But every soul looks saintly
Their hearts to heaven turn
While I, in my conviction,
Can only sit and squirm.
You know, I often wonder
If I should miss a day;
Would he, without his target,
Have anything to say?
—Author Unknown
Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.
There is something that many of us battle with – that is having a clear conscience. Usually in church, the conscience is defiled because of a few primary reasons.
Those primary reasons we shall talk about in a moment – but there are many people of our day who do not have any kind any conscience at all. For people like that there is little hope for them. Their hearts and lives are hardened toward God, hardened to righteousness, resolute in their sin with no hope of turning. One of the reasons I think it is wise to seek and exercise our 2nd amendment is because of this society that has no conscience.
A Native American of old once said, "Conscience is a little three-cornered thing inside of me. When I do wrong it turns around and hurts me very much. But if I keep on doing wrong, it will turn so much that the corners become worn off, and it does not hurt me anymore."
Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.
1 Timothy 4:1–2 (AV)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
I’m not trying to deal with the unregenerate seared conscience, what I want to do deal with is the believer seeking a clear conscience.
I. THE REALITY OF SELF-CONDEMNATION
I. THE REALITY OF SELF-CONDEMNATION
Self-condemnation is throughout the Bible.
It goes back to even the first family.
As a matter of fact the contrast of the first generation
Genesis 3:6-11
Before his sin, Adam, being God-conscious, having complete open unfiltered and unfettered communication with God, had joy and a clear conscience.
But after he was conscience of sin, his God-consciousness caused him to fear.
This reality is seen in the sorrow of man's history.
A. It is in the Bible
A. It is in the Bible
A guilty conscience drove Judas to take his own life.
The same led Peter to weep, a deep sorrow and self-condemning.
B. It is real today
B. It is real today
A guilty conscience causes creation of false religion.
I’ve been getting these emails from some Korean group that wanted my input on their interpretation of Revelation. I got five, so I finally looked to see what kind of strange cult it was. In so many words these Koreans thing they are the New Israel.
This reality is seen in the fact of our present day.
The mental health suffers in many as a result./
The many defeated saved people of today is a reality of this.
The day we live in the greatest freedom, luxury, and leisure time, we are less happy and discouraged because of our lack of a character.
C. It is not the same as godly sorrow
C. It is not the same as godly sorrow
Don’t be confused this is not the same as the sorrow that God is looking for.
That is a godly condemnation. It is God through the Holy Spirit leading us to make a decision concerning repentance.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Repentance is “to change one’s mind” or and leads to the recovering of one’s senses. It brings that person toward God.
But the sorrow of the world leads to death.
D. An unhealthy attitude in this area can rob one of their spiritual life as well as their physical life
D. An unhealthy attitude in this area can rob one of their spiritual life as well as their physical life
God does not mean for you and I to live in sorrow and self-condemnation, he wants you to repent and get it right.
II. THE REASONS FOR SELF-CONDEMNATION
II. THE REASONS FOR SELF-CONDEMNATION
A. Sin causes condemnation
A. Sin causes condemnation
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The Bible says we are condemned already, so it is normal and right for a lost person to see himself as God sees him.
As a believer we are no longer condemned.
Should we as believer not see ourselves as God sees us
· A wrong committed still on our conscience can cause self- condemnation
· An unconfessed sin on our conscience will cause it.
· A confessed and forgiven sin on our conscience will cause it
· But the believer must understand and remind himself that when God has forgiven us – but we have not forgiven ourselves, we continue to beat ourselves up and are of not good for God because of the wasted time and energy and effort.
B. A wrong perception of God’s will causes self-condemnation
B. A wrong perception of God’s will causes self-condemnation
For instance, we get a burden for the mission field, or for fulfilling a need, or giving to missions, or building a class.
And in our failure we condemn ourselves. Now, if it is our laziness, if it is unwillingness to walk with God; if we don’t tell anyone about the Lord – or invite people and then we fail at our class – we are guilty for sin.
But if you have genuinely told people about God and bathed in prayer, and have kept your life cleans and sought to walk with God, there is no reason to fear or self condemn.
C. A wrong expectation of God's provision for our sin will cause it
C. A wrong expectation of God's provision for our sin will cause it
What is God’s provision
(Repentance and confession gives provision)
A wrong conception of God's method of dealing with saved causes it.
A wrong comparison of our life will cause self-condemnation.
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
We can condemn ourselves for not attaining our plans for life we have made, (our goals we fail to reach) , (even goals for Bible study, prayer, witnessing)
We can condemn ourselves for not attaining others plans for life.
III. THE REMEDY FOR SELF-CONDEMNATION
III. THE REMEDY FOR SELF-CONDEMNATION
Let me tell you a far better use of your energy, instead of condemning yourself – build yourself in these areas by endeavoring to do well in them.
The remedy is not found in searing our conscience to our condition, we understand that we are sinners and that we need to ever be growing – but now we need to realize what our relationship with God has afforded us.
Denial of condition will increase guilt complex.
The remedy is found by searching our own conscience in the light of God's Word.
A. Confessing
A. Confessing
So it starts with
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Did you confess to God your were a sinner, did you take him by faith as your Lord and Saviour? Then you are no longer in condemnation.
Did you sin against God in some way, then confess it to him immediately and move on with your relationship restored.
B. Accepting
B. Accepting
Accepting His Grace
Accepting My Place
Remembering where we came from
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Remembering what we are made of
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
C. Trusting
C. Trusting
The remedy is found by accepting God's promise by faith. We must remind ourselves of his promises so that we do not fall again into condemnation.
Remember what is his blood did for us:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
As we walk in the light, with a clear conscience, neither judging nor doubting others or questioning their convictions – we do well and walk together.
But when we are condemning ourselves, we are usually condemning others or offer no encouragement as a result of our guilt.
The blood cleanses us from the defilement and guilt of sin.
Faith in God's Word cleanses our conscience from a guilty consciousness or complex.
Knowledge of the truth is key here. Truth comes from his Word, you and I must have faith in what is says.
Self-Condemnation
Rom. 14:17-23