When you become a Christian you automatically become a child of God but that does not mean you automatically become perfect.
Being a Christian does not mean that you will always say right things. Or that everything you do will be one hundred percent accurate. Tough but true.
Before you can come to terms with this you are bound to feel guilt and condemnation now and then, especially when you make a mistake.
Questions like these How could I do something like that, I’m a Christian. Or How could I have said those mean things, I’m supposed to be kind? are sure to plague your mind.
One of the first steps to dealing with such feelings of condemnation is remembering that being a Christian does not change the fact that you are human.
You are Human
For as long as you are on the earth and breathing, you will have to come to terms with your shortcomings. You will have to remember that you are human.
Jesus’ death on the cross redeemed us from the power of sin and death and perfected our spirits. But there is still a lot of renewal that needs to take place when it comes to our emotions, thoughts and actions. These are not perfect yet. You are not perfect yet.
It is vital that you understand this so that when you fall short, which will happen, you don’t also fall into despair. You need to leave room for yourself to make mistakes.
Now this does not mean you give yourself an excuse for behaving contrary to the Word. But it does help you understand why you might do so.
Coming to terms with being human will free you from feelings of condemnation. It will also help you realise that your righteousness does not come from yourself. Your righteousness comes from Jesus.
Your Righteousness Comes from Jesus
Part of the reason you can become plagued by feelings of condemnation is because you set a high standard for yourself. Consciously or unconsciously, you put pressure on yourself to be perfect.
But what you must know is that no one is perfect. No single human being can meet God’s righteous requirement by themselves. Absolutely no one can keep all God’s commandments without falling short in some way. This is why in the Old Testament people had to continually make sacrifices to atone for their sin. (Hebrews 10:11)
But we as New Covenant believers don’t have to carry the burden of righteousness on our shoulders. Jesus Christ already did. He fulfilled all of the Law and paid the price for sin that we should have paid but couldn’t.
Therefore, you must rely on His finished work on the cross. You must remember that your righteousness comes from Jesus and Jesus alone. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
This is what you must remember when faced with feelings of guilt and condemnation and it is this truth that you must declare and use as a weapon against condemning thoughts.
Declare the Truth
When guilt and sorrow come into your heart, when you feel miserable at the thought of not being good enough, you must declare the truth.
This is the key way that you can deal with feelings of condemnation.
God’s word is described as a sword. (Hebrews 4:12) This means that it is also a weapon, one we can use against negative thoughts and emotions brought by the enemy or even ourselves.
The Bible explicitly says that There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus… (Romans 8:1) It’s that simple.
Now that you are in Christ you do not need to suffer from feelings of condemnation. Yes, you will mess up and make mistakes. But instead of wallowing in self-hatred, pity and guilt, rise up and declare what God has said about you in the Word. Remembering that what you do does not change the way God is looking at you.
God Still Loves You
God never stops loving you because of what you have done. It’s true. However, that does not mean that He turns a blind eye to sin and wickedness.
In no way does God promote ungodly behaviour. Instead, He loves each and every one of us and calls us to turn from wickedness and come to Him.
So when you make a mistake. When you say the wrong thing or act unkindly, don’t wallow in guilt. Don’t succumb to feelings of condemnation. Instead, remember that you are loved. Remember that by your faith you have overcome (1 John 5:4) and you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Then try again.
Try Again
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that being a Christian will be a smooth sail. Yes, the Lord promises us continual victory (1 John 5:4), abundant and everlasting life (John 10:10; 3:16). But He also reminds us that being a disciple will be difficult. (John 16:33, John 15:20)
We will face temptations and trials, whether physically or emotionally. But that does not mean you should give up. You must keep trying.
I’m a terrible person. I’m useless. What’s the point of doing this if I keep failing? When you feel condemned, these are some of the thoughts that can start filling your mind. You might even stop reading the Bible or praying because you feel God is angry at you.
That is not true.
When such thoughts come, don’t let them take root and grow. Don’t let them destroy your fellowship with the Lord. Refuse to allow them to force you to give up.
Keep pressing toward the high calling of God. (Philippians 3:14) Keep seeking the Lord and His righteousness.
The Lord is Your Strength
My flesh and my heart fail: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 (NKJV)
Finally, when you must remember that the Lord is your strength. All your goodness is from Him. He is your righteousness.
So when you make a mistake and feelings of condemnation come, do not despair. Thank the Lord for Jesus and for His unconditional love and His grace that has covered all your sin. Then dust yourself off, take a deep breath and step into His presence once more.
