Don Francisco - No Condemnation Lyrics
Lyrics
Sittin' by my window on a rainy afternoon
Everything inside my head was playin' out of tune
I was thinkin' of the fool I'd made of me the night before
In front of God and everyone I'd sinned and sinned some more.
I thought of all the things I'd done, I winced at things I'd said
I wallowed in self-pity, I hung my worried head
Right when I was so far down that even up looked wrong
That's when Jesus gave to me the chorus of this song.
He said, "Satan the Accuser has been whisperin' in your ear"
You just tell him you're forgiven and he's got no business here
'Cause it doesn't matter what you've done
It matters what you'll be
There is no condemnation when the Son has set you free.
Now I could say that right away the sun burst through the clouds
And I just started singin' on the chorus right out loud
But actually I moped around and blew another day
Before I let myself accept the words I'd heard Him say.
Repeat Chorus
So I can't criticize you now if you want to take your time
And cling to all your problems just the way I clung to mine
But now you've got the answer Jesus wanted you to know
He'll take your sin and guilt away if you'll just let them go.
Repeat Chorus (Sing last line twice)
Video
There Is No Condemnation
Meaning & Inspiration
Don Francisco's "No Condemnation," released in 1998 as part of the *Beautiful to Me: Don Francisco Collection, Vol. 2*, offers a profound meditation on spiritual freedom and the transformative power of divine grace. The song opens with a raw, relatable portrayal of post-transgression despair. Francisco paints a vivid picture of being trapped by past mistakes, a feeling amplified by the introspective mood of a rainy afternoon. This internal turmoil, where "everything inside my head was playin' out of tune," is a powerful depiction of the guilt and self-recrimination that can plague a soul after recognizing sin. The lyrics beautifully capture that moment of profound discouragement, where even looking upwards for solace feels futile.
It is at this nadir, this point of utter desolation, that the song's central message emerges, presented as a direct impartation from Christ Himself. The lyric "That's when Jesus gave to me the chorus of this song" signifies a divine intervention, a truth revealed when all human efforts and self-assessment have failed. The core of this revelation lies in understanding the adversary's role. Francisco identifies "Satan the Accuser" as the source of relentless whispers, feeding doubt and shame. The divine response is clear: acknowledge forgiveness and dismiss the accuser's authority. The song emphasizes a shift in focus from the weight of past deeds to the potential of future transformation. The pivotal line, "It doesn't matter what you've done / It matters what you'll be / There is no condemnation when the Son has set you free," echoes the Apostle Paul's powerful declaration in Romans 8:1. Just as Paul assures believers that "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1), Francisco’s lyrics underscore that freedom from condemnation is not earned but a gift bestowed by Christ's redemptive work. This liberation is not instantaneous in its reception, as Francisco honestly admits his own delay in fully embracing this truth. The song acknowledges the human struggle to shed deeply ingrained patterns of guilt, noting, "But actually I moped around and blew another day / Before I let myself accept the words I'Kd heard Him say." This honesty serves as a comforting assurance to listeners who may also find it challenging to immediately accept such radical grace. The invitation extended in the song is one of empathy and encouragement. Francisco, having walked through his own valley of self-condemnation, extends understanding to others, stating, "So I can't criticize you now if you want to take your time." However, he immediately pivots to the solution, reminding the listener that the answer lies in accepting Christ’s offer to cleanse them of sin and guilt. This aligns with biblical teachings on repentance and faith, where turning away from sin and trusting in God's mercy is key. The song's repeated chorus serves as an anthem of spiritual liberation, a constant reminder that through Christ, the power of accusation is broken, and a future free from the chains of past transgressions is made possible. This message resonates with passages like 1 John 1:9, which promises forgiveness and cleansing for confessed sins, and 2 Corinthians 5:17, which speaks of becoming a "new creation" in Christ. Ultimately, "No Condemnation" is a testament to the unfathomable scope of God's mercy and the peace that comes from fully surrendering to His forgiving love.