Introduction:

Salvation is freedom from sin and the bondage it causes in our mind, hopes, and flesh. That is to say that we no longer become setback by failure, but instead we seek God for truth and righteousness.

Proposition:

If you are one of those people who finds themselves in the position where you are ravaged by thoughts of failures, but you don’t really want to change then you are experiencing condemnation. The shame of knowing you are wrong but lacking the will to do right! Salvation can free us from this bondage if we trust Christ Jesus.

Body:

Conviction: the act of convicting someone, as in a court of law; a declaration that a person is guilty of an offense.

Condemnation: to pronounce to be guilty; and sentence to punishment:

Conviction is what someone feels when the Holy Spirit has transformed their mind by regeneration, and they now wish to be “Like Christ”. It is the acceptance of the truth of proof of wrongdoing, and a desire to correct it, or to repent.

The reaction to this is to seek out light, to seek out God in sorrow for having failed him. The humility causes a severe desire/need for change, a whatever it takes mentality. In this, I surround myself with likeminded people who seek God in earnest. I leave the people and patterns that induce sin, and cling to godliness.

In other words, conviction is what one feels when they want to change.

This process provides repulsion to old habits, but not immunity to them. There will continue to be a sway toward old habits that one must war against.

Condemnation is what someone experiences when their mind has not been transformed, and they are not regenerated, or when they have fallen away from their covenant with God. Sin remains within them and the subconscious shame of their guilt causes anger, depression, resentment of, as well as wrath against others.

The reaction to all of this is to seek out darkness, a place where I can hideout from the shame I am feeling. I distance myself from God out of embarrassment. I no longer feel confident, or comfortable approaching God out of guilt. The more this occurs the further from God I move, until I wake up one day with no desire to seek God at all. I am merely living a sinful life. I stop going to church, and wishing to see, or speak with anyone who does.

Therefore, condemnation is what someone feels who knows they’re guilty and neither cares, nor wishes to change enough, but rather expects those around them accept their choices, or to change their behavior instead.

I must be clear, you see, with conviction there is hope, but with condemnation you have been sentenced to be punished.

The beauty of salvation being this: though we are convicted when we do wrong, we are also motivated, through righteousness in the Holy Spirit, to right the wrong we have done, and to repent.

Conviction in the Holy Spirit, or walking in the Spirit, does not condemn us, but rather frees us from condemnation by convicting us when we are wrong!

This conviction causes us to repent immediately and seek God’s face and protection.

This can only occur in us when the Holy Spirit has been given the place in our hearts to change our minds, to regenerate/transform our minds! (Rom 12:1-2)

Now, rather than to hide in darkness due to shame, anger, depression, or denial of guilt, we seek redemption/reconciliation with God.

We are enabled with the ability to recognize sin for what it is, a weapon used to enslave our minds, bodies, hearts, souls, and spirits in shame and confusion.

When Adam’s eyes were opened to sin, they became blind to righteousness! We cannot pick up sin without losing something!

The Dark Kingdom is great for showing what you will gain in sinning, but they always leave out everything you are going to lose to sin!

The Holy Spirit brings liberty because lies are not accepted in the light, only in darkness. When we walk in the Spirit, we walk in the light where truth lives and lies are exposed constantly.

Everything is placed out in the open, where it must be, if you love someone. Also, true love causes us to esteem others more than ourselves, which makes us very particular about how we treat them.

When we are capable of thinking of others first, we rarely mistreat them out of the love, kindness, and thoughtfulness of consideration.

We learn to “Do unto others as we would also have them to do unto us” because we think of them first!

1. How would he/she feel if I did/didn’t do this?
2. How does my actions affect him/her and our relationship?
3. What do my actions say about our relationship?
   1. Do I care what my actions might say?

Condemnation’s purpose is, again, not only to pass judgement upon one as guilty, but also to sentence them to punishment of being:

• Forced to hide in darkness (shrouded in secrets about oneself)
• Forced to live in shame
• Forced to live angry because of unconfessed guilt
• Forced to live in wrath because of unconfessed guilt
• Forced to live in anxiety because of unconfessed guilt
• Forced to live in depression because of unconfessed guilt

Living with lies is an exhausting lifestyle.

1. You must remember your lies (every single one)
   1. Misspeaking can divulge the truth and expose your lies
2. You must keep up an act, live your lie
   1. Pretend to be someone that you are not around anyone you lie to
3. You must live with the burden of never being free
   1. You either must tell the truth and risk losing people/things
   2. You live with the constant guilt and fake relationships
      1. No relationship based upon a lie is a real one
      2. Lies create barriers between people/love

People living under these conditions are moody, angry, depressed, vengeful, wrathful, hateful, and generally unhappy people.

These people are often fatigued, complaining, bitter, and unsatisfied.

Where is the joy in knowing that the end is near, and will not be pleasant?

How can one live happily enduring the pressure of shame, guilt, lies, and never-ending darkness resulting from secrets.

You know that you are wrong. You know that you are lying. You know that you have been untrue.

This is what a life of sin is! This is what living outside of God’s Providence is like.

A lifetime of waiting for the end to come, knowing that it won’t end in favor of you! Waiting for the other shoe to drop, as they say!

It is as if you are on trial, have been found guilty, and now await sentencing!

The inevitable shall come unless you repent!

Rom 8:38-39

³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The wise realize that it is the love of God which moves to convict us, and not condemn us! God shows us the truth about ourselves to prevent us from becoming delusional and obsessed with the sin.

The love of God keeps us focused on God’s guidance, voice, peace, and warnings from a realistic perspective which holds us accountable.

Anything seeking to remove accountability is not of God.

It is instead about sin and damnation.

When they execute people, they used to blindfold them as they lead them to their death, and in some instances still follow this practice today!

 Why not allow me to see what is killing me, to make sure that I miss my chance to change course?

Therefore, it is the love of God which convicts us, and moves us to changed.

But the Law of sin which condemns us through guilt and shame! Blinds us!

One seeks to bring us to light and peace, and the other to darkness and mayhem.

We have today! We have this hour. There is yet time!

If you are under the sound of my voice then God has presented you with yet another opportunity to reconsider your life, and your ways!

What are you allowing the enemy to take from you, to destroy in your life?

God is extending his hand out to you, to me, to us all!!!

The choice is yours! What will it be?

 Conclusion:

The goal of sin is to convince us that there is bondage in salvation, rather than freedom.

Sin coerces or forces you to continue to sin! Salvation encourages you to live free!

You can live the Life God intended for you to live if you come to Jesus!

Salvation doesn’t create bondage, it is the answer to, and the remedy for it!

The Holy Spirit came to free us from the chains and slavery of sin, and every pitfall that comes with it!

Would you like to learn how to be free?

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