Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Some people are bilingual, meaning they have a native language that they are most adept in, as well as an additional language that they are functional in. For Satan, his native language is lying. Jesus says to some liars in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
When it comes to our sin and condemnation, there are two ways that Satan condemns:
- Satan tells the unbeliever they are not condemned.
Satan tells people to be proud of things they should repent of, and that God loves and approves of whatever they do, so that the death of Jesus for their sin, and their repentance of that sin, is unnecessary because they aren’t really sinners. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” In our world today, this explains why the only thing that seems to be wrong is telling people that they are wrong. This gives unbelievers a false sense of security that there is no judgment or hell awaiting them.
- Satan tells the believer they are condemned.
Not only does Satan tell unbelievers they are not condemned; he also tells believers they are condemned. Revelation 12:10–11 reports, “the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” Never tiring of his torment, the Accuser haunts and harasses God’s people. Sometimes, this is done by a vague and general condemnation that leaves people feeling beaten and broken but unsure what sin they committed and need to repent of. Other times, this is done by bringing up past sin that God has forgiven, and we have repented of, to make us relive the worst decisions we have made over and over as a form of torment.
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