There is something to be said about not wallowing in self-loathing and grief when you've sinned.
Jesus said in John 3:17-21 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth even il hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
So, those who don't know Christ are condemned because they do not believe on HIM and those that DO believe are saved from condemnation. See, there is something to say about not wallowing in the after effects of not meeting the mark! If you CAN move from self-loathing and grief, you may have something, dear believer, that others don't have!
Condemnation is, I believe, the sound of the enemy's voice, if you will. Maybe the devil isn't actually speaking to you but I guarantee that if you are a child of God that the devil is not slack in his attempts to hinder your progress in the faith. The god of this world has schemes so subtle he's labeled as the serpent and the subtlest of ALL creatures. The very environment around you, from society to culture to family and peers all, calls you to work to earn your status and train you to feel badly when you fall short of this goal. That is considered subtle when the enemy uses this mindset mixed with the words, "too late" and "gone too far" to stop you in your tracks.
The difference between the voice of the enemy and the guidance of the Spirit of God is that the Spirit of God brings the correction AND guides you toward the corrective, comforting you in the ability to repent.
Paul said, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom 8:1-11)
This directs us to a question, not for others but, for ourselves: "Have I been born again? Am I dead to the flesh and alive to the Spirit? Do I have a new mind God gave me, the very mind of Christ?" The answer to or lack of ability to answer the question may surprise you. I call out today for you to question your salvation, I call you to examine yourselves and make your calling and election sure. Without the crisis of conscience in your life, and by that I mean to say if you have never really been afraid that you didn't believe in Jesus, we stand with good reason to doubt your claim to eternal life. Pretty bold? Well, better to call you to the narrow than leave you on the wide.
We love you.
Good morning.
On time messages from the Word of God for everyday life!
