Self condemnation

I have been praying about this yet it seems to weigh on me as I keep returning to it. In the gospel pertaining to the Kingdom of God (Matthew, Luke, Mark John) repentance and confession were doctrine. After Christ was crucified, a year passed that Gods chosen would repent....they did not, which was evident in the stoning of Steven..

After the stoning, Saul was introduced in scripture as he persecuted the Christians, Later, on the road to Damascus, Our Lord Jesus visited him with the mystery to be revealed to the Gentile. I was Reading in Romans 14 and realized that at the end of this chapter Paul speaks of damnation of eating what you believe to be evil....My concern for this corporate church doctrine we see today, was amplified in this passage. Paul, during the dispensation of grace, preached damnnation...

In this context, what are your thoughts, on a congregation, that reads and applies the the Gospel of the Kingdom of God? They were taught to basically impute sin upon themselves, so if they sin(evil) knowingly, they are damned. Self condemnation seems to be directly linked to not fully understanding that Christ covered the sin of the world....So in the mind of that congregation, as they sin which is evil unto them, is this not damnation? Are they denying Christ unknowingly?
A freightening thought.

Thank you for your responses


Romans 14:23 King James Version (KJV)

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but Romans 14:23 isn't talking about eternal damnation (hell).

Romans 14:23 King James Version (KJV)

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

** i'm not attempting an explanation, but only an exploration **



if internet research is to be believed, here in v.23 'is damned' is actually 'has been damned/condemned' ((past tense))
KJV is consistent with this, but it may not be apparent because the English 'is condemned/damned' doesn't immediately differentiate between finished & present, ongoing actions.

obvious question: has been condemned by who?
well, what the book says right before it gives some explanation


isn't this the same principle as what he says in the opening of the chapter, v.5 "each person must be fully convinced in his own mind" ?
if you do the things your faith tells you you ought not to do, you've condemned yourself, and you're the one who does it. and in the paragraphs at the opening, surrounding this instruction, he writes that the one who considers all things clean must not think of the one who doesn't with contempt, and likewise the one who considers some foods unclean must not judge the one who doesn't. if two believers can have opposite views over the purity or impurity of what they eat and drink, or whether they observe a day ((v.5)) then where does approval or condemnation actually lie in such matters? with God or within ourselves? but vv. 4, 6-8 tells us that it is to God we stand or fall, and explains that this is the reason we should not be despising or judging/condemning one another.

has God given contrary laws to each of us? in v.23 Paul intimates one law that summarizes the situation: whatever is not of faith is sin. so God has given this rule: walk in the faith you have received, which God has given. now, John also has something to say about the same matter:


"if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart" -- ah, this is peace, and rest in Him

Awesome response!! And amen!