What is the difference between condemnation and judgement?
ANSWER
Don’t confuse the word Condemnation with the word Judgment
And ALWAYS look at the word in question in CONTEXT
CONDEMNATION has to do with being FOREVER excluded from God due to the sin of UNBELIEF
DEATH is also has to do with being FOREVER excluded from God due to the sin of UNBELIEF
JUDGMENT for both believers and unbelievers has to do with WORKS alone and not SIN
EVERY sinner deserves condemnation and CHRIST TOOK THE PUNISHMENT for ALL
The BELIEVER – is not under condemnation because CHRIST took His condemnation for Him
The UNBELIEVER - IS under condemnation because he did NOT believe in Christ’s sacrifice
The reason the Christians is not condemned is because CHRIST took His punishment
The reason an unbeliever IS condemned is because he did NOT believe in Christ’s sacrifice
Either 1) Christ receives the condemnation of GOD on behalf of the believer
Or 2) the unbeliever receives the condemnation of God because of UNBELIEF
The cross and belief in Christ is the ONLY thing connected with GOD’S condemnation.
Note…. ALL believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ but this judgement has nothing to do with condemnation of God (which is due to the sin of UNBELIEF) and everything to do with the works that are done in the body, during our life as a believer – whether GOOD or BAD -
GOOD works will be rewarded and BAD works will lose ALL rewards.
Condemnation is connected with BELIEF
Judgment is connected with WORKS carried out in this life -
If YOU want to say that believers that produce bad works are condemned for their bad works that’s absolutely fine…. But please never ever, ever use that word about a believer in its PRIME context throughout scripture.. which has to do with the sin of UNBELIEF.
Adam was the first man who was the representative of all humanity. Because Adam sinned Adam received a sin nature. This sin nature is passed on to all of Adam’s progeny. Every man woman and child has a sin nature. Man is not only a sinner because he SINS, man is a sinner because he is born a sinner. God has decreed that every sinner must die and the root word of death is separation from God. God decreed that the only way that a man could be judged as righteous would be to be sinless – not to ever sin and not to be born a sinner – which is impossible for ALL are sinners both by BIRTH and by action.
God also decreed that the only way that a sinner could have his sins forgiven would be if a sinless man were to die as payment for the sins of the sinner. But NO man can achieve this for ALL have sinned. God alone is good and God alone is sinless – but the substitute HAD to be a KINS-MAN redeemer, a human being and not spirit and not an animal. So God Himself came to be that in that person, the kinsman redeemer – and He came in the person of His son Who was born as a perfect man and Who lived a perfect live and Who became that KINS-MAN redeemer and Perfect Substitute for ALL men. Jesus was the second man, the last Adam – born of a woman – but with no human father. Christ Jesus was not born a sinner and had no sin nature… He also lived a perfect sinless life and so was enabled on the cross to shed His blood and in so doing paid the price for ALL sin- He paid the price for every sin committed by every man, woman and child, past present and future.. ALL sin is forgiven.
The sin of one man ADAM brought death on the whole race.
The shed blood of the sinless victim, the Lord Jesus Christ who was the second man the last Adam paid the price for every sin for all mankind..
Everyone who believes that Christ died and rose again to pay the price for their sins – because a NEW CREATION in Christ. THEY ATR NOT CONDEMNED
God’s condemnation is upon ALL who reject the Lord Jesus as saviour.
There’s absolutely NO condemnation on anyone who believes in Jesus as saviour.
Condemnation must not be confused with Judgment
Condemnation is one thing…. Judgment is another thing and needs to be separated
Condemnation is ALL about belief and un belief…
Condemnation ONLY is poured out on the unregenerate man – the unbeliever – the one that has not accepted the Lord Jesus as saviour – the one that has rejected God’s free gift of grace – all it requires is BELIEF….
- God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
- He who believes in Him is not condemned;
- but he who does NOT believe is condemned already,
WHY>>>>because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God John 3
- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Romans 8:1B
But this means that There IS condemnation to them which are NOT in Christ Jesus
ALL people are born physically from ADAM and are sinners and deserve death.
Those who believe in Jesus are born SPIRITUALLY from the LAST Adam and are given the GIFT of eternal LIFE - they are the NEW Creation.
Every man (whether an unsaved sinner or one that has been born again because they have trusted Jesus as Saviour) has sins forgiven – but THOSE that do not accept the FREE gift are under God’s condemnation
NO MAN is judged on his sins.. for all sins are forgiven… .
HOWEVER ALL MEN are judged on his WORKS.. carried out in the body
The UNBELIEVER is judged on his works at the great white throne
CHRISTIANS are judged at the bema seat of judgement seat of Christ 2 Cor 5:10
Israel will be judged at the end of the tribulation.
Until you can accept this is what condemnation is all about you will have questions about judgment – Judgment is an important issue but is not the same as condemnation
Condemnation is connected with believing or NOT believing in JESUS as saviour
Condemnation is meted out to those that do NOT believe in God’s Word – Jesus
Judgment is meted out to ALL people and is based on their works.
There is judgement for sinners and judgement for saints.
Almost everywhere that the word condemnation is use it is in connection with UNBELIEVERS..
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
John 3:19 this is in the context of UNBELIEF and deals with condemnation from GOD It is one of the thieves
on the cross asking if the other about his UNBELIEF in God and Jesus.. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light
John 5:24 this is in the context of UNBELIEF and deals with condemnation OF or FROM GOD
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Romans 5:16 this is in the context of UNBELIEF and deals with condemnation OF or FROM GOD
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment (of Adam) was by one to condemnation, but the free gift (of salvation which depends on trusting Jesus as Saviour) is of many offences unto justification.
Romans 5:18 this is in the context of UNBELIEF and deals with condemnation OF or FROM GOD Therefore
as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Romans 8:1 this is in the context of UNBELIEF and deals with condemnation OF or FROM GOD
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. … but we are told in John chapter 3 what happens to those that do NOT believe… they are ALREADY condemned so you could really add There is therefore condemnation to them which are NOT in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 3:9 this is in the context of UNBELIEF and deals with condemnation OF or FROM GOD
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. Ie is God is glorified though the lives of UNBELIEVERS.. how much more will He be glorified in the lives of BELIEVERS
When the word condemnation is use in the few verses that are connected with BELIEVERS it is always see in the context of CHILD TRAINING This is spelt out well through Hebrews.,…
Child-training is sometimes called chastisement or discipline – is not Condemnation/ punishment Child training is NOT Gods WRATH /
Child training is NOT condemnation which is clearly always linked with UNBELIEF.
James 3:1 this in the of CHILD TRAINING warning that those who have a greater understanding of the word of God have greater accountability TO God – at the judgement seat or Christ – which is NOTHING to do with GOD”S condemnation
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James here is pointing out that mature believers have a greater accountability to God.. but are NEVER condemned in the context of UNBELIEF
1 Timothy 3:6 this in the of CHILD TRAINING – this is a warning of not promoting a young Christian into leadership position too early as it is likely to result in pride which caused satan to fall
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
This is NOT condemnation for GOD that is linked to Unbelief
but then, why Jesus himself said, for every unimportant word that has come out our mouth, that are wrong, will be accountable at the seat of justice of God?
This is in connection with JUDGEMENT – and of course we all have to stand before Christ and give an account of ourselves… BUT AS BELIEVERS we are and always will be ACCEPTED by God IN CHRIST… not Condemned because of unbelief
1 Corinthians 11:34 this in the of CHILD TRAINING an is actually regarding discipline from PAUL not from God. This is teaching about how a Christian should conduct himself
And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
nowhere do I see the word RETRIBUTION used in connection with the judgment of works. If this word is ever used in the Old testament is is in connection with UNBELIEVERS.
What is does say is that all words will be MANIFEST or MADE KNOWN through fire….
Good works will come out pure and bad works will be burned up…
Every man’s work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1Cor.3:13
If you want to say that all the works a believer has done in this life and which are to be burned us by fire is retribution go for it.. but it does not use that word in scripture… so it is important that you do not put a MODERN definition on the word retribuation… better to say that his good ro bad words will be REVEALVED… by fire,.. and burned up
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:
but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1.Cor 3:15
The carnal Christian in NOT under condemnation because there is NO condemnation for those that are IN Christ…
BUT when a believer lives as a Carnal Christian their works will result in LOSS
Their works being revealed by FIRE and BURNED UP -
Loss is not condemnation as condemnation has to do with unbelief
CHRIST took God’s punishment – God’s condemnation – God’s wrath against sin instead of believers… even believers that life a carnal life… there is no condemnation to ALL that are in Christ Jesus
Christians that suffer loss at the judgment seat will be believers, described by Paul as CARNAL. You can read all about their sorry state in 1 Corinthians 3
At the judgment seat of Christ GOOD works are rewarded..
At the judgment seat of Christ BAD words are burned and there is no reward –
You are right the great white throne is for unbelievers…
Unbelievers are judged at the great white throne and will be JUDGED for their WORKS..
NONE of the works of unbelievers can be rewarded as unbelievers are incapable of producing any good works. ONLY believers that are living a spiritual life and guided by the Holy Spirit can produce GOOD works. Carnal believers will produce BAD works which will be burned up… but that is nothing to do with condemnation.
Punishment that is directed at believers that live a carnal life – eg we will have to give an account of the good and bad words and deeds etc has NOTHING to do with condemnation which is connected with UNBELIEF… but Paul goes into detail of what will happen in 1 Corinthians 3 and that judgment only has to do with WORKS… as all sins were forgiven at Calvary.
As believers we are in UNION with Christ forever
As believers we can lose COMMUNION with Christ when we sin or are living a carnal life
1 John 1:9 is tell HOW to get back into fellowship with God….
Elizabeth Haworth
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