“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus ...” Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Do you ever struggle with a guilty conscience? I’m not talking about conviction for sin but a more troubling form of guilt called “condemnation” — which is false guilt for believers in Jesus.

Stored in our enemy’s toolbox, condemnation seeks to leave us, especially if we are “perfectionists,” in hopeless desperation even after we confess our sins.

Guilt was a huge part of my religious upbringing. It seemed almost a requirement to me! When I learned about receiving conviction from the Holy Spirit versus condemnation, I was confused because they felt the same way.

Friends would say I was being too hard on myself, reassuring me that sins confessed and repented of are sins forgiven. They told me to commit Romans 8:1 to memory: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus …”

But I still felt the weight of anxiety after repenting in prayer, so I began seeking the Lord, directly asking, What is the difference between condemnation and conviction?

Peter and Judas lingered in my mind. They had contrasting responses to Jesus during their greatest hours of need. Both of them suffered after their notorious sins of betraying Jesus. Peter, however, experienced true conviction. He grieved intensely. But he had witnessed Jesus extend mercy to sinners every day; ultimately, this enabled Peter to believe he could turn back to Jesus and receive the forgiveness he so desperately needed (John 21:16-19).

Judas, on the other hand, seemingly kept his distance, staying on the fringes of Jesus’ ministry. Perhaps he maintained a more shallow relationship that prevented him from truly understanding Jesus’ merciful heart. He couldn’t fathom Jesus offering him forgiveness. Judas was consumed by his sin instead of his Savior. His relentless self-focus and agonizing guilt cost him his life (Matthew 27:3-5).

Through Peter, we see that conviction leads us back to Jesus. It offers solutions that resonate in our hearts so we can take appropriate steps toward reconciliation and peace.

Through Judas, we see that condemnation leads us away from Jesus, filling our minds with never-ending accusations and hopelessness. It offers no solutions and leads to nothing but despair.

Learning to run to Jesus with our sins instead of away from Him takes time and much practice. Friend, Jesus knows everything anyway. We can trust His heart and believe there is no condemnation for those who belong to Him.

This acrostic concerning G.U.I.L.T. comes to mind:

Go
Unhindered
Into
Love’s
Truth

If you have found yourself struggling with counterfeit guilt, I hope this will help you too.

Dearest Father, our sins are much too heavy a load for us to carry, let alone cling to. Let us not be hindered in bringing them to the Truth of Your love, which encourages us simply to be honest with You. Help us to lay our sins before Jesus and find rest in the mercy He died to give us. His perfect sacrifice on the cross is, and always will be, sufficient. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Today’s devotion writer, Jennifer Van Gorder, is a member of COMPEL Pro Writers Training. Receive writing tips on your social media feeds when you follow COMPEL Pro on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Galatians 2:21, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly” (NASB).

2 Corinthians 12:9a, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness’” (NASB).

Have you ever considered that when we withhold our sins from Jesus’ powerful forgiveness, we may be thinking His suffering on the cross was not enough? We never want to dismiss the cross. Thankfully, we can be honest with Jesus about our thoughts and feelings in prayer.

Let’s focus on what Jesus has done and remember that because His love for us is perfect, we don’t have to be! Ask Him to help you surrender to His love, which has the power to overcome your weaknesses and abolish every sin you confess and repent of. As God’s one and only holy Son, Jesus paid the extravagant price necessary to bring us home to our heavenly Father.

We’d love to hear your thoughts — share them in the comments!

© 2024 by Jennifer Van Gorder. All rights reserved.