10/28/2026
COLLEEN’S CLIFF NOTES: "CONDEMNATION VS. CONVICTION"
Guilt. It’s been the mainstay of modern-day comedians. Catholic guilt (you skipped mass --50 Hail Marys!). Jewish mother guilt (don’t worry about me -- I’ll just die old with no grandchildren!). Fitz (my dad) was unguiltable. Mother would fire missiles of guilt at him for not being handy around the house, but he was impervious to them. Fitz would cheerfully deflect all Mother’s slings and arrows! I found it hilarious but wisely kept it to myself.
The world defines guilt by a verdict. If someone is found guilty by a jury, then they are convicted of a particular crime. Webster defines conviction as, “a formal declaration that someone is guilty. Can also refer to a firmly held belief or opinion that one is certain of.” The world defines condemnation as: “The act of expressing strong disapproval or censure.” Interestingly enough, the Biblical connotations of these two words are different. Conviction: “The work of the Holy Spirit making one aware of their sin and the need for a savior. It is a gentle, loving pull towards righteousness, meant to correct, foster growth and restore fellowship with God.” (AI). “Condemnation comes from Satan or from within oneself and induces shame, hopelessness, and thrusts us away from God.” (AI).
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation unto those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh but after the dictates of the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). This is God’s decree in the words of the Apostle Paul. Shame and hopelessness should not dwell in the heart of a believer based on this passage. But that is a tall order for someone like me! I mess up on a daily basis; even after asking for and receiving forgiveness, I still feel a layer of slime-like guilt all over me. II Corinthians 7:10 gives a wonderful perspective on this: “For Godly grief (CONVICTION) produces a repentance that contributes and leads to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (CONDEMNATION) is deadly.”
I find myself in condemnation mode too often. What am I to do? I must snap out of it if I’m going to strengthen my faith. I found my answer in II Timothy 3:16: “Every scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and training in righteousness.” This means that I must be more diligent in seeking out scriptures that remind me of God’s grace and forgiveness.
I’m finding nowadays that when I mess up, I feel it right away. Whenever I say or do something that’s out of God’s will, the Holy Spirit CONVICTS me. The Holy Spirit does not CONDEMN me. This is a reflection of what Jesus said in John 16:8: “And when He (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict and convince and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness and about judgment.”
All these passages taken together give us a way to avoid living on a lower level which is condemnation. There’s nothing wrong with allowing yourself to feel the “Godly grief” of conviction. That is how God gently nudges us toward repentance and course correction. So, if you’re stuck in condemnation like I was, consider this final thought: “For if we shine light into the dark corners of our lives, there is no longer darkness.” Run, don’t walk, to the scriptures!
GOD’S PEACE TO ALL!
