Ok, fellow Christian.* Have you done or said something that left you feeling condemned?
I’ve been there. What should we do to restore fellowship with our Lord and press on in His service and towards His goal for us?
Prayerfully take these steps:
ONE:
Confess your sin to Almighty God.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Believe Him.
Believe that He is faithful and righteous.
Believe that He has forgiven you.
Believe that He has cleansed you from all unrighteousness.
TWO:
Step One is really all that is needed. But, since we’re talking about feeling condemned, here are three additional helpful steps.
Remember Paul.
Paul called himself a wretched man, practicing what he didn’t want to do.
“For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” (Romans 7:19, NASB95)
This is the apostle Paul writing, the man through whom the Holy Spirit wrote much of the New Testament, who was a powerful, godly, missionary sent from God.
Fellow Christian, you are not, NOT, condemned.
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Believe that if you are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation. No condemnation.
THREE:
Remember David.
David was the godly king, the sweet psalmist, the one who was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).
Yet David committed adultery with Bathsheba and caused her husband’s death (2 Samuel 11).
This was evil in the sight of Yahweh. (No kidding!)
David was convicted of his sin, confessed, and was forgiven (2 Samuel 12).
Pray, for yourself, Psalm 51, using your own Bible.
Read and pray it again, noticing:
God’s lovingkindness and compassion is what makes forgiveness possible (through Jesus Christ). It all starts with Him.
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
Confess your sins
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
Once you have confessed, and been forgiven, ask for blessing:
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Determine to press on:
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
Remember:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
FOUR:
Believe that once you have confessed, God, in His faithfulness, has forgiven you.
Press on.
Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)
Press on!
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*This post is strictly for those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior. If you’re not, see Becoming A Child of God.
