1 John 3:18-20 (The Message)
My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

In these verses John reaffirms that the quality of love is an indication of our love for God. He also states love is also a way to shutdown our own condemnation. We may have something we feel condemned over, but the condemnation is not from God. God knows what is going on inside of us and it’s His love that is drawing us to Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life. John 3:16 is a verse familiar to many. It shows God’s love for us. God loved us so much He gave His son’s life for us. Now the question to ask is “If God loves us to the point of sacrificing Christ for us, why would we feel God would want to condemn us?” Following John 3:16 it says in verse 17, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” God wants to save us to be with Him. It stands to reason someone who wants to be close to us would not condemn us. He instead shows His love, His grace, His mercy and draws us close. It is ourselves who feel condemned by our own sins, but we placed those there ourselves, not God. Christ also said in Luke 6:37, “"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” If we learn to love and not condemn then we can find God’s love and loose the condemnation we place against ourselves. Do you feel condemned by your sins? Look for the love, the grace and mercy God extends to each of us through Jesus Christ. Pray and accept His love. Ask that the feelings of condemnation would vanish and that only His love would be present.