Conviction and condemnation are not the same, and the Bible draws a clear line between them. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit to lead a person to repentance and restoration. Condemnation, however, is the righteous judgment of God upon sin. Those who do not believe in Christ are already under condemnation.
Conviction is a work of the Spirit:
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8)
Conviction reveals sin and points the sinner to Christ. It produces godly sorrow:
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Condemnation is not from Satan, it is the just response of a holy God toward sin. Jesus said:
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)
Romans 8:1 speaks of the believer’s position:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Those in Christ are no longer under condemnation, not because condemnation is false, but because Christ bore it on their behalf:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
It is not the role of Christians to condemn others, but to proclaim the gospel that delivers from condemnation. God is the judge. Jesus said:
“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” (John 12:47–48)
Conviction is a gracious call to repentance. Condemnation is the just sentence for sin. All are condemned apart from Christ, and only through Him can we be justified and forgiven.
