CONVICTION vs CONDEMNATION
 
 
 
A lot of believers hear condemning thoughts, and some believers even think it's God  
telling them these things. My friend, nothing could be further from the truth! God NEVER  
tells you what a loser you are or that you aren't worthy to be His child.
 
Jesus said He came not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 12:47)!
 
 
So what is the big difference between condemnation and conviction?  
 
Does God lay condemnation at our feet, heaped upon us or does he just lay us low with conviction.
 
For that matter what in the world is the difference between these two words?  
What is conviction?  What is condemnation?
 
Paul makes a clear distinction between the two in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10:
 
“I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to  
the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in  
order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is  
according to the will of God, produces a repentence without regret, leading to salvation,  
but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
 
The wordly system and the Holy Spirit’s conviction both produce the feeling of sorrow.
However, the sorrow resulting from Satan’s accusations leads to death, while the sorrow  
of conviction is a sorrow which leads to life. Paul wasn’t rejoicing that the Corinthians felt  
sorrowful; he was rejoicing that their sorrow would lead to repentance, a knowledge of  
the truth, and finally freedom.
 
Every Christian is faced with the choice of walking by the Spirit or by the flesh on a daily  
basis. The moment you choose to walk according to the flesh, the holy Spirit brings conviction  
because what you have chosen to do is not compatible with who you really are. If you continue  
in the flesh, you will feel the sorrow of conviction.
 
 
What is condemnation?
 
Condemnation comes from Satan and is meant to tear you down. Condemnation continually  
points out what a failure you are, and how badly you've messed up. Condemnation is  
showing you the problem, but avoiding the solution.
 
Jesus did NOT come to condemn the world  
(John 12:47).
 
 
“ Therefore, there  is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus .”
(Romans 8:1).  
 
Satan on the other hand is KNOWN for accusing the brethren  
 
“For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and  
night, has been hurled down.” (Rev 12:10).
 
Why won't you ever hear God telling you what a failure you are?  
 
Because Jesus said, "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47)
 
What is conviction?
 
Conviction is known in the Bible as Godly sorrow. God's Word tells us that Godly sorrow  
is what leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).  
 
“or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not  
realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.”
 
Condemnation tells you, "You are such a failure! Look at what you did!" while conviction  
tells you, "Come to me... and I will forgive you!"
 
Not only is God willing to forgive your sins, but He longs (deeply desires) to do so!  
Isaiah 30:18, "Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits  
on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed  
are all those who long for Him." (NASB)
 
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."
 
Romans 2:4, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and  
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
 
Conviction shows you the answer to your problem. Conviction shows you the  
blood of Jesus that wipes away your sins!
 
So if Paul says that condemnation and conviction both produce sorrow, “How do I  
know which kind of sorrow I’m experiencing?”  “They feel the same.”  
 
Determine whether your feelings reflect the thoughts of truth or error, and you will  
identify their source. Do you feel guilty, worthless, stupid, or inept? That’s a sorrow  
provoked by accusation because these feelings don’t reflect the truth.  
 
You see judicially you are no longer guilty.  
 
You have been justified through your faith in Christ, and there is no condemnation  
for those who are in Christ Jesus.  
 
You are not worthless; Jesus gave His life for you.  
 
You are not stupid or inept; you can do all things through Christ
 
When you find lies lurking beneath your feelings of sorrow – especially when these  
feelings drive you into the ground & lay you low – you are being falsely accused.  
Even if you changed you wouldn’t feel any better, because Satan would then find  
something else to badger you about.  To disarm the sorrow of accusation you must  
submit yourself to God and resist the devil and his lies.
 
 
Conviction shows you the answer (the Blood of Jesus, which washes away sin), while  
condemnation shows you the problem (the sin, the past and your failures). Condemnation  
shows you the problem, but conviction shows you the answer.
 
Condemnation shouts, "Your past! Your sins! You loser!" But conviction shouts, "The  
Blood of Jesus washes away sins! Come to Jesus and be forgiven of your sins! You  
can be forgiven! Your sins and past don't have to be a part of you anymore!"
 
 
But if you are sorrowful because your behaviour doesn’t reflect your true identity in  
Christ, that’s the sorrow according to the will of God which is designed to produce  
repentance. It’s the Holy Spirit calling you to admit on the basis of 1 John 1:9, “Dear  
Lord, I was wrong.” As soon as you confess and repent, God says, “I’m glad you  
shared that with Me. You’re cleansed; not get on with life.”
 
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse  
us from all unrighteousness.”
 
You walk away from that confrontation clear and free. The sorrow is gone, and you  
have a positive new resolve to obey God in the area of failure.
 
 
 
Condemnation vs. Conviction--How to spot the difference
 
It is vital to note that there is a difference being convicted by the Holy Spirit and feeling  
condemned. Condemnation is nothing less than a lie of Satan, and is not of God. One  
sure fire way to spot condemnation is that it makes a believer feel worthless and  
unloved by God.
 
 
 In contrast, conviction of the Holy Spirit is an uneasy sense about our sin; something  
doesn't sit well, because God is dwelling in our spirit, and He is a holy God, so sin does  
not fit in His presence.  
 
Did you catch the difference? Condemnation causes you to focus on yourself. Conviction  
is focused on the sin. The old saying that God hates the sin, but loves the sinner is much  
more than a cliche. It contains the incredibly liberating truth that God loves us.  
 
Having established that, it is important to acknowledge that God can and will allow us to  
experience conviction; to sense a wrongness with our behavior, which is accompanied  
by an unquenchable need to make things right.
 
Let’s look at some graphic examples of the contrast between accusation (condemnation) and conviction found in the lives of Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter.
 
JUDAS ISCARIOT & PETER
 
 
Somehow Judas allowed Satan to deceive him into betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver  
(Luke 22:3-5). When Judas realized what he had done, he was so remorseful that he hung  
himself. Was his suicide the result of Satan’s accusation (condemnation) or of God’s  
conviction? It had to do with the condemnation or accusation because it drove Judas to kill  
himself. Accusation leads to death; conviction leads to repentance and life.
 
Peter also failed Jesus by denying Him. It apparently began with pride as the disciples  
argued over who was the greatest among them (Luke 22:24-30). Jesus told Peter,  
“Simon,  Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.”(verse 31).  
That’s right you heard it right! Jesus allowed Satan to put Peter through the mill because  
Peter had given the enemy a foothold through pride. But Jesus also looked at peter and said,  
“I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned  
again, strengthen your brothers” (verse 32).
 
Peter vowed to die with Jesus, but Jesus told him that he would deny Him three times  
(verses 33-34), which he did. The remorse Peter felt was every bit as painful as that  
which judas experienced. But Peter’s sorrow was from conviction which led to his eventual  
repentance and restoration  to Christ (John 21:15-17).  
 
When your feelings of remorse pound you into the ground and drive you from God,  
you are being accused by Satan. Resist it!
 
But when your sorrow draws you to confront Christ and confess your wrong, you are being  
convicted by the Spirit. Yield to it through repentance.
 
 
 
Conviction vs. Condemnation
 
Sometimes we aren't sure just who is talking to us. If it's God, we certainly don't want  
to rebuke Him. But we need to be equally careful not to confuse the attack of the enemy  
with the voice of God. Let's look at who is speaking, what is being said, and the motive  
behind it.  
 
WHO: First, clarify your exact feelings. Take a moment, condense them into a  
few sentences and say them out loud to yourself or a friend. Does it sound like God?  
Does it fit His character? Is it an area of sin? Does it line up with the Bible?  
 
WHAT: God's conviction is usually specific. He will let you know, “You just told a lie,”  
or “Fred, I want you to take more responsibility at home.” Specific. On the other hand,  
condemnation is usually more general in nature. The enemy says things like,
 “You're a lousy Christian,” “Why don't you just give up?” or “God could never  
forgive you for that.”  
 
It could be a vague feeling that everything is wrong, but you can't put your finger  
on anything. For example, you may get the feeling that you're a hypocrite. If so,  
just say, “Lord, if that's You, please show me exactly what I've said or done so I  
can get it right.” If it's the Lord, and if you are open to being corrected, guaranteed  
He will tell you.  
 
WHY: When I discipline my children I'm specific because I'm training them. I want  
them to learn - to do better next time. I want them to grow into healthy maturity,  
not lose heart in defeat. If I spank my daughter I may say, “Daddy is spanking  
you because you just hit your sister.” I would never grab her and say, “You're  
getting this spanking because you're not gonna make it as my daughter. You're a  
wreck. You may never grow up right!”  
 
Many times God speaks a hard word to us. His discipline may hurt for a time, but His  
motive is always love. The surgeon carefully cuts out the cancer, but the robber slashes  
us in the alleyway. One uses a knife for healing purposes, the other for destruction.  
 
Look at the desired outcome.  
 
The devil's condemnation is designed to drive us away  
from God into a fruitless, hopeless existence.
 
The goal of God's conviction is to draw us closer to Him -  
our lives bearing good fruit.