Brian Stone

The Pharisees were a group of religious leaders who Jesus rebuked for legalism and condemnation. They studied their Bibles and obeyed all the rules, but their hearts were far from God (Jn 5:39-42). Some people today could be characterized by some of their same characteristics.

The issue is a false sense of assurance based on a false sense of obedience. First, assurance of being right with God is not based on our obedience (cf. Jn. 5:39-42). Romans 4:5 is clear that it is actually faith apart from works that makes us right with God. “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). Second, we are not as obedient as we might think. Even the apostle Paul, who after being saved was pretty much the best Christian who ever lived, confessed many years after his conversion, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:14-25; cf. 1 John 1:8-10). As we will see, this is a very important confession if we want to grow in our relationship with God.

Jesus would often teach His followers the truth by rebuking what was false. Consider the following parable as Jesus teaches against the prideful legalism of the Pharisees.

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

• Do you see the importance of confessing yourself as a sinner?
• Do you see the rebuke for thinking of yourself as a righteous person because you think your sin is not that bad?
• Do you see the correction of condemning others for sins you don’t realize in your own life?

Many times those who condemn others use their own life as the right example (“look at me, I’m not like them.”). Again, they have a false sense of assurance based on a false sense of obedience.

God does not exalt those who are confident in their own obedience and condemning of the sin in others. He exalts those who confess themselves as sinners and depend completely on the mercy of God. This confession is where we find forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). This confession draws us back to cross where we find the power unto genuine righteousness (Ro. 1:16-17). This confession breeds a life continually dependent on Christ for everything (Jn. 15:5). This confession transforms us into the people God desires us to be (Ro. 12:1-2). Not a people who are proud we don’t sin like others, but people who realize our own weakness and are continually dependent on the grace and mercy of God (Heb. 4:14-16).

Condemnation from others is damaging and hurtful, but beyond that it is also spiritually defeating. As we approach people struggling in sin may we do so in humility and restoration (Gal. 6:1). When you are condemned by others remember this parable, search the Scriptures for genuine conviction, and depend solely of the mercy of God for righteousness.

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highlythan he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

If you have ever committed sexual sin you probably know what it’s like to be condemned for it. A preacher speaks of the harsh realities of all the negative consequences of sexual immorality in all its forms. Then you feel horrible and hopeless, you feel condemned. Many feel kicked back down into the pit from which Christ has delivered them.

If you feel you haven’t committed sexual sin, consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 6, especially verse 28, “…I say to you that everyone who looks with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Remember, God judges the motive of our heart, not just the actions of our bodies (1 Co. 4:4-5).

In our relationship with others there is a distinction between conviction (appropriate and helpful) and condemnation (inappropriate and hurtful).  The primary difference is motive and hope. The motive of condemnation is to make you feel bad (Matt. 7:1-5). The motive of conviction is to make you realize your need (Jn. 16:8-11). The hope of condemnation is that you will straighten up your life and stop sinning (Luke 18:1-8; Gal. 3:1-3). The hope of conviction is that you will turn to Christ, yield to the Spirit, and draw near to God (Jn. 3:16-18). In this context condemnation is of man and leads to death, but conviction is of the Word and the Spirit and leads to life (James 3:1; 1 Thess. 1:5).

So how do we deal with sexual sin? Let’s look at the example of the apostle Paul.

In 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 Paul is correcting the believers in Corinth for sexual immorality. They were having sex with prostitutes as well as with their step-moms (1 Cor. 5:1). This is some evil sexual sin! Notice how Paul moves them to conviction and towards Christ.

 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Did you see it? Paul starts out hard against sexual sin; you are joining Christ with a prostitute. The translators even use an exclamation point to communicate his tone! Paul shows them the spiritual union that takes place with sexual relations; it is not just a physical act! You are hurting yourself in a uniquely sinful way. You are in grave sin indeed.

But look at the first verse again. He starts by reminding them they are in Christ. He ends this rebuke with the same truth. He reminds them who they are in Christ, that they are indwelled with the Holy Spirit, that they were bought by the death of Christ (the gospel), they belong to Him and should seek to glorify Him in their body (cf. 1 Co. 6:9-11).

Do you see the gospel appeal? Do you see the motive? Do you see the hope?

Instead of causing people to doubt who they are in Christ Paul reminds them who they are in Christ. He does this because the solution to our sin is not feeling guilty and condemned by others but feeling convicted by the gospel and realizing who we are in Christ, refocusing our attention on the cross, and walking in the hope of drawing near to God through Christ.

To the Condemning

Instead of condemning people for sin we should realize our motive and the hope we offer. We should also realize our own pride and purpose (Gal. 6:1; 1 Co. 10:12; Matt. 7:1-5). Like the apostle Paul, rebuke sin and correct the sinner but with humility and in love do so with the hope of the gospel, the reminder of who we are in Christ, and the sanctifying challenge of drawing near to God (Heb. 4:14-16). If you state the problem you must also state the solution, and like God provide a way of escape (1 Co. 10:12-13).

To the Condemned

Instead of feeling condemned for sin we should realize our need for Christ and our battle against the flesh (Gal. 5:16-18). Realizing our need is a work of the Holy Spirit and the first step of turning to Christ for forgiveness, cleansing and victory (Jn. 16:8). Then we must refocus our attention on the cross, remember who we are in Christ, and seek to draw near to God. This is the solution, the way of escape God has provided, and the only way to glorify God in our bodies (Jn. 15:5; 1 Co. 10:31). This is also the way to freedom and joy in Christ!

Have you ever felt condemned by a preacher? This often happens when a preacher condemns sin and the sinner without including the hope of the gospel, the grace of God, or the transformation of salvation. The preacher’s limited view of the cross and his misunderstanding of the story of redemption can leave people feeling burdened and heavy-laden, a feeling we should never feel after coming to Christ! (Matt. 11:28-30)

The truth is that sin is horrible. In fact, it is so damaging it took the life of God’s one and only Son to remove it. This is why we rejoice in Christ, He has paid for sin! The Bible teaches very clearly that when we step into Christ we are forgiven of our sins, we are washed clean by the blood of Christ, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, made new and made alive. In fact, God does not even remember the sins of your past! Consider the following verses of Scripture:

1 John 1:9 – forgiven and cleansed of sin (sin has been removed!)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Heb. 9:14 – purified conscience (no more guilt!)

…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

1 Cor. 6:11 – washed, sanctified, justified (you are right with God!)

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Eph. 2:4-6 – Sinner loved by God and made alive in Christ (you are a new person!)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Heb. 10:17 – God does not remember our sin (you are viewed in Christ!)

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

As a result we need to realize this important truth:

1 Cor. 5:16-18

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh…17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God…

When we step into Christ we are forgiven, cleansed, purified, washed, born again, and made new. My past sin does not have to haunt me, torture me, and continually punish me. I do not have to pay for sin the rest of my life. Christ paid for my sin once and for all. My sin ended at the cross. This is the beauty of the Gospel!

God does not remember your sin but the preacher might want you to remember forever. However, Christ brought us freedom from this guilt and condemnation.

Romans 8:1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.