Is your relationship with God characterized by feelings of condemnation or confidence? If you’re at all like me—in other words, if you’re an ordinary Christian—your answer to this question is probably, “Both.” Sometimes I feel guilty and ashamed of my sins. Knowing that I’m a sinner, I feel like I should be condemned. Other times, however, I feel like I’m in sync with God and his purposes for my life. In those times, I feel God’s love for me, have hope for the future, and approach him confidently in prayer. These wavering feelings are my issue (and yours), not God’s. … Continue reading Condemnation or Confidence (1 John 3:19-24)