“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34
Condemnation is big business. The newspapers, Social Media, and Parliament, are generators of condemnation, all reported in the news media, so we hear all about it even if we don't read the papers, or participate on social media, or follow parliamentary debates. Even personally, how easy it is to slip into criticising friends and neighbours, or our nearest and dearest. It is easy to criticise, it comes easily to mind, and it gives us an illusory sense of moral superiority. However, if condemnation could make the world a better place, surely it would have worked by now? Do we perhaps need to bang the drum of condemnation even louder? Or, should we be concerned if we are condemning more than we are giving thanks, and criticising more than we praise? In my experience, encouraging the good is more effective at bringing about positive change than condemning the bad.
But as a Vicar am I not also in the business of condemning? Of noisily pointing out those who sin, and furiously declaring God's disapproval? I ought not to be. Jesus taught, 'do not judge', so condemnation should not be the business of the church.
God is in a better position to judge than we are. God knows all the secrets of our hearts, our real motivations, our weaknesses, and our hidden desires. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Yet God does not condemn, He offers us forgiveness and restoration. We know this because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who, as it says in Hebrews, is the “radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature.” Who condemns? Not God. At the cross God was condemned by judgemental humanity, it is we who condemn.
Jesus now stands at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, not that the Father is inclined to condemn. The Father and the Son are of one mind. The Father sent His Son so that we might receive forgiveness, and recognise the presence of Jesus at his Father's side as a promise of that forgiveness. We must be able to distinguish between right and wrong, but not condemn others, or ourselves, when we fall short, because the ultimate judge has chosen to offer His forgiveness and restoration to all.
“Who then is the one who condemns?”Happy Eastertide, from Rev'd Stephen Gamble
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