Paul once wrote the beautiful words, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  To know and believe this, as Christians, is very empowering.  It takes away any doubt of our salvation and fills our hearts with the joy of heaven.  It is important to note, however, that Paul modified that statement in the rest of the context, telling us that this truth only applies if we walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (ver. 4).  This means that there is a way we can live, that is, according to the flesh, that will condemn us.  Let’s look at some things this week that will condemn us, and hopefully, we can avoid them.

I will begin by discussing the condition of our hearts.  Having a bad heart condemns the soul.  Jesus told His disciples that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but that which comes out of the mouth (Matthew 15:11).  Peter, not understanding what Jesus meant by that, asked for an explanation.  This is what Jesus told him and the other apostles:

Matthew 15:17-19 (ESV)
¹⁷  Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? ¹⁸  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”

Bad food might hurt the body, but a bad heart defiles the soul, and that is what condemns a person.  What is the Bible referring to when it speaks of the heart?  It is not referring to the physical organ in our chest, so what is it?  Knowing what the biblical heart does, reveals to us what it is.  Here is what the Bible says about the heart:

It has the ability to rejoice (Psalm 13:5), trust (Psalm 28:7), fear (Isaiah 60:5), ponder (Luke 2:19), be troubled (John 14:1), be made glad (Acts 2:26), be cut (Acts 2:37) be filled (Acts 5:3), believe (Romans 10:10), make decisions (2 Corinthians 4:7), be in agony (2 Corinthians 2:4), have a purpose (2 Corinthians 9:7), and can be hardened (Ephesians 4:18).  It is clear from this that the biblical heart is the intellectual part of our being, that is, the mind.

If you allow the devil to corrupt your mind, condemnation will be sure to follow.  As Jesus said, out of the corrupt heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, etc.  These are all things that bring condemnation upon the soul.  What must we do?   The wise man of Proverbs tells us:

Proverbs 4:23 (HCSB)
²³  Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.   

You guard your heart by filling it with the proper things, namely the Word of God.  When you allow the Word of Christ to dwell in you (Colossians 3:16), it will cause you to think spiritually, and help you to live according to it.  There is only one way to fill your mind with God’s Word—you must spend time studying it.

Let us all make a habit of thinking about the proper kinds of things…things that will build us up and help us to be stronger Christians.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.   

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.