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Condemnation (#156097)
Condemnation
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From:
Doctrinal Definitions: A Handbook of Doctrinal Terms & Expressions in the New Testament
By:
Stanley Bruce Anstey
Narrator:
Chris Genthree
Duration:
4min
• 3 min. read • grade level: 7
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This refers to the irrevocable damnation of people who pass out of this world in their sins. It applies to Satan and his angels as well.
Many think that judgment and condemnation are the same thing, and use the terms interchangeably. However, this is not true.
“Judgment”
is the
sentence
or
verdict
that has been passed upon all men because all have sinned. (Some Bible versions translate "judgment" as "verdict" to indicate this.) If men come to Christ and get saved, they avert this judgment.
“Condemnation,”
on the other hand, is a final and irrevocable thing; it is never reversed. It is the
future
portion of all who pass out of this world in their sins without faith (
Mark 16:16
16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16)
–
"shall be condemned"
).
"The world"
(
1 Cor. 11:32
32
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32)
),
"the flesh"
(
Rom. 8:3
3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)
),
"the devil"
(
1 Tim. 3:6
6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:6)
), and people who have died in their sins (
John 5:29
29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29)
) are the only things and persons that are said to be under condemnation now. Hence, men who are alive in this world in their sins are under judgment, but they are not under condemnation—at least not yet. If they pass out of this world in their lost condition, they will then pass into condemnation.
Romans 5:16
16
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. (Romans 5:16)
shows clearly that judgment and condemnation are not synonymous. It says,
"The judgment was by one unto condemnation."
This shows that judgment
precedes
condemnation. W. Scott said, "Judgment and condemnation do not mean the same thing. Condemnation is future and final. Judgment precedes it." J. N. Darby states in the footnote of his translation in
Luke 20:47
47
Which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. (Luke 20:47)
that the word
"judgment"
is "the sentence passed on the thing charged as guilt; the charge itself is the ground of judgment, not the fact of condemnation."
Some might wonder how
John 3:18
18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
fits with this. It says,
"He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
However, this is a mistranslation in the KJV. It should read,
"judged,"
rather than condemned.
Romans 8:1
1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
states,
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ."
Note: it does not say, as some imagine, "There is now no
more
condemnation to them which are in Christ"—which would imply that they were once under condemnation, but they have escaped it through faith in Christ. The point in the verse is that, resulting from being justified and being
"in Christ,"
it is impossible for the believer to ever come into
"condemnation."
C. H. Mackintosh said, "The English reader should be informed that, in the entire passage,
John 5:22-26
22
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23
That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him.
24
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.
25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (John 5:22‑26)
, the words
"judgment,"
"condemnation,"
and
"damnation"
are all expressed by the same word in the original, and that word is simply
"judgment"
—the process, not the result." (
Papers on the Lord's Coming,
p. 48).
J. N. Darby said, "We all know, if we know anything, the difference between past sins (or present) and the evil nature [sin]; the fruit; and the tree. If it is asked, 'Is a man condemned for both?' I should say, that he is
lost,
rather than condemned" (
Collected Writings,
vol. 34, p. 406).
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