We are starting on a new series today with the theme-Free from Condemnation. Our topic for
this Episode is- The Weight of Condemnation.
I have discovered that so many Christians live under the heavy weight of condemnation. And
the result of this is spiritual stagnation, the fear of failing God, frustration, feelings of not being
good enough and also lack of joy. But the fact is that though our feelings and emotions
condemn us, the Word of God is very clear about His position on feelings of condemnation in
the lives of Christians. Our feelings and emotions were never meant to guide our relationship
with God. Our relationship with God should be guided by His Word.
Most of us want to live a good moral life, but then as we know, the spirit is willing but the flesh is
weak; so we find ourselves making mistakes and not living the life we want to live; and this
causes frustration and discouragement. In the well known scripture in Romans 7, Apostle Paul
lamented his frustration that he could not do the things he wanted to do.
In Romans 7:21-24a, he cries out-
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. But I see
another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of
the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body
that is subject to death? 
People quote this scripture to support the argument that all through our life, the intensity of the
struggle between the flesh and the spirit cannot diminish. But Paul was in this scripture,
describing the life of a person who is recently born again and therefore has not realized that
Jesus set him free from condemnation. A person who was yet to realize that the Spirit of God
lived within him and would help him to subdue the flesh if invited.
The truth is that, while most of us remain in this state of immaturity, struggling with our flesh and
emotions and remaining a prisoner to the law of sin and death, Paul moved on. Paul received
the revelation of the work that Jesus Christ had accomplished in his life. In Romans 7:25, he
exclaims-Thanks be to God who delivers me through Christ our Lord. And in Romans 8:1 he
continues- So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Paul rejoiced
because he came to the realization, that even when the flesh got the better part of him, and he
made mistakes and missed it, there was no condemnation for him because he belonged to
Jesus Christ.
What does condemnation mean? It means that a person has been judged, found guilty and
sentenced to punishment or a penalty. It also means strong disapproval or criticism. In everyday
language, when we say something is condemned, it means the thing is useless and unfit for
use. In the real sense of it, we all deserve condemnation. And the devil likes to accuse us and
remind us that we deserve it in order to hinder our walk with God.
But God due to His love for us, sent Jesus Christ to take the punishment and penalty that we all
deserve for our guilt. Jesus took our condemnation by taking the punishment for our sins and in
exchange has given us freedom from condemnation.

The truth that even if he missed it at any time, he no longer needed to live in fear of
condemnation freed Paul to live victoriously and to move on with his ministry of spreading the
word of God.
You and I also need to come to terms with this truth that we are free from condemnation.
Most of us know in our heads and in theory that Jesus Christ took the punishment and penalty
that we deserve and that we are no longer guilty. But we have not allowed the truth that we no
longer need to live in fear of condemnation to rule in our hearts and direct our thoughts.
Sometimes, we allow ourselves to get into depression and anxiety because of past mistakes.
We speak to God about our errors and though He says He is faithful and just to forgive our sins,
we refuse to let go; we stay under condemnation and we make the Word of God of no effect in
our lives.
But to continue to feel condemned is to deny the blood that was shed for your sins. In fact living
under condemnation is an indication of pride and ego. Because by living under condemnation
you are portraying that your depression and sadness can deal with your sin and mistakes better
than the blood of Jesus Christ.
In John 3:17 when Nicodemus came to talk to Him, Jesus said “For God did not send His Son
into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
Psalm 34:22 says-The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take
refuge in Him will be condemned.
Feelings of condemnation make us feel we are not good enough to relate with God and to
receive His blessings. The fear of condemnation makes us timid in the presence of God and
unable to operate in our identity as children of God. Feeling condemned affects our prayer lives
and our ability to serve God because you can’t really have a loving relationship with God if you
live in fear of His judgment and punishment.
You need to set yourself free from feelings of condemnation. You need to reject words of
condemnation when spoken over you by people. Sometimes people may speak such words
unintentionally. Have you noticed that some people rather than say-have you completed your
assignment? would always say-haven’t you completed your assignment? Haven’t you done this,
haven’t you done that? Such words make the recipient feel guilty and unworthy and are not right
unless they have acted in a way to deserve the veiled criticism.
You need to be alert especially at Christian gatherings and other public events to reject words of
condemnation coming from any person no matter whom. People pronounce words of
condemnation even in their prayers. Refuse to accept it. Declare that such words are not for you
because you have been set free from condemnation by Jesus Christ! And Jesus says in John
8:36-If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. So you are free from condemnation.
And you also must avoid using words of condemnation against yourself and others.
In other to move forward in our spiritual life, we need to break free from the fear of
condemnation. We need to allow the truth of Romans 8:1 to sink into our hearts-there is no
condemnation for you because you belong to Jesus Christ. To rise above the fear of

condemnation, you need to change your mindset from that of unworthiness, undeserving and
protracted depression over your mistakes to that of-I have been forgiven. I am free indeed
because Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is more than enough.
Moving on, Romans 8:2 says-And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit
has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Because we belong to Jesus, we have received the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to
subdue the flesh and to prayerfully resist a life of sin.
Because we belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit has freed us from the power that sin had over us.
In Romans 8:9-12, Paul calls our attention to the fact that we can overcome the struggle
between the flesh and our desire to do good that he highlighted in Romans 7 because the Spirit
of God now lives within us and has given us the power to live new lives, free from the control of
sin. Paul also makes it clear that the Spirit of God has given us the power and enablement to
grow in our faith and the knowledge of God.
Like I pointed out before, the truth that even if he missed it at any time, he no longer needed to
live in fear of condemnation freed Paul to live and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit within him
and to move on with his ministry of spreading the word of God. He was released from guilt and
shame. At the same time he could amend his ways, improve and change where he needed to
by the help of the Spirit of God living within him who does not condemn but convicts us when we
need to change.
The conversation here is that we are free from condemnation from God, shame and guilt from
the time we give our lives to Christ though the devil and men will try to condemn us when we
fail. Having been set free from condemnation, we should now allow the Spirit of God to
gradually transform our lives as we study and meditate on the Word of God.
This transformation is a process that lasts a life time. In the course of our journey of
transformation we will miss it from time to time because we are not yet perfected in the flesh.
But we must not allow the devil to bring us into condemnation due to our mistakes. The
truth is that unless like Paul we break free from the fear of condemnation, we cannot freely
operate in the power of the Spirit of God. Guilt, shame and condemnation hinder the move of
the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, our feelings enable us to feel joy, compassion, excitement, sorrow and other
emotions, but they do not determine the truth. The Word of God is the truth and it says that
there is now no condemnation for you because you belong to Jesus Christ. So when you begin
to feel condemned, it is time to go on the offensive against that lie, armed with the Word of God!