Recently I witnessed a graphic illustration of one person trying to condemn and steal the joy of another person. By scornfully ridiculing the redemptive and heart transforming power of the gospel that so obviously manifested itself in the person being ridiculed.
It was heartbreaking but not surprising.
This brutal and unforgiving rehearsal of the “Adamic Nature” doing what it does best (steal, kill, and destroy) is what those who are in Christ are to expect from the world.
The unsaved world are slaves to the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Therefore all they can do is produce evil. The Lord Himself made that clear in Luke 6:45.
Luke 6:45
‘A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.’
The Lord’s admonition is clear and we can identify where a person stands by the fruit they bear and by what comes out of their mouth. If a person is always angry, vulgar, and immoral you can be certain that this is what this person is like on the inside (the heart).
Again, as Christians, we are to expect the unsaved world around us (no matter who they are) to hate us. Because they hate God. But as believers, we have NO CONDEMNATION…!
Romans 8:1-2
‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death ‘
Moreover, now, because we have “NO CONDEMNATION” from God we have peace with God.
Romans 5:1
‘Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,’
So since we have no condemnation and peace with God. Who is he that condemeth? As the apostle, Paul writes in Romans 8, “if we are God’s elect then who in the world can be against us”. No one! Because it was Christ who died and rose again for us. Read on.
Romans 8:31-35
‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?’
Romans 8:36
‘As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”’
More than Conquerors Inspite of Condemnation from the World
Romans 8:37-39
‘Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
In Conclusion
Now that you know NO ONE, not your co-workers, spouse, mom, dad, boss, siblings, family, friends, nor anyone can condemn you. What and how should you deal with condemnation and ridicule from whomever?
- Forgive them (because Christ forgave you)
- Love them (because it was God’s love that put Christ on the Cross).
- Pray for their salvation (pray that God opens their hearts to the Gospel)
- Share the gospel with them (we are ambassadors for Christ)
- Stand firm in your faith and continuously pray and study God’s word.
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