“There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from
Immanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath the flood lose all their guilty
stains.
Lose
all their guilty stains
Lose
all their guilty stains
And
sinners plunged beneath the flood lose all their guilty stains.” 1
Healthy Guilt and False
Guilt
(This could be the
most important chapter in this book!)
As Christians we need to distinguish between healthy conviction (where
God convicts our hearts, corrects our actions and redirects us in the paths of
righteousness); with false guilt (condemnation), or toxic shame (where we feel
terrible, hopeless, beat ourselves up, and in extreme cases want to hurt
ourselves). With God’s help I will try and give you practical advice you can
use and not just heavy theology alone.
The Bible addresses this directly in 2
Corinthians and calls it either “Godly sorrow” or “worldly sorrow.” In addition
the Bible says that Satan’s name means accuser. He is constantly accusing us
and wants us to feel condemned (even though the Bible clearly says “There is NO
condemnation for those who are in Christ” Romans 8:1). Paul says, “Godly sorrow
brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly
sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Paul even says that this
“worldly sorrow is Satan’s plan, “2Co 2:5 If anyone has caused
grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some
extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him
by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to
forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by
excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm
your love for him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see
if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you
forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was
anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11
in order that Satan might not outwit
us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
When we sin The Holy Spirit lovingly
gives us a conviction of sin called “Godly sorrow.” But it does NOT make us
feel terrible about ourselves, rather it, “sorrow brings repentance that leads to
salvation and leaves no regret.” We don’t keep beating
ourselves up, we have no regrets, and it’s over!! We are forgiven, we move on,
and we don’t continue to feel shame; NO regrets!!! Remember Jeremiah 31:34? God
remembers our sins “NO MORE!!” If He doesn’t remember then why should we?
Now on the other hand “worldly sorrow”
is defined by God. “Worldly sorrow brings death.” Death could mean that
feeling of depression and lifelessness, a lack of Christ’s Life (joy, peace,
love, and abundant life). Get this: God does NOT want us to feel that kind of
worldly sorrow. The world feels that and deals with it in ungodly ways because
they don’t know Christ. He loves them and wants them to be freed. But listen!!
Christians many times choose to obsess on their sins and deal with guilt in a
worldly way.
I do NOT say this to shame you. The
truth is my heart goes out to you, I weep for anyone like this. In fact I
myself struggled with guilt so badly for years. I knew intellectually that God
forgave me but the feelings of intense guilt remained. It was like a tape or c.d.
repeating the same message over and over, “You blew it, you’re not really a
Christian, you will never change, and you should just give up because it’s
hopeless.” That is also Satan accusing you. In Zechariah 3:1 and Job 1:6, for
example, The devil is referred to as “Satan the accuser.” He knows that if
you’re a Christian that you are bound for Heaven because of the perfect life,
death, and resurrection of Christ. However he can try to deceive you and rob
you of your joy.
Some practical advice I can give you is
to memorize verses that speak the truth, and when that intense guilt comes you
can speak the truth out loud and let it minister to your heart. The Bible calls
itself “The Sword of The Spirit.” It is The Sword of Truth that defeats Satan
and his attempts. When you read it AND say
it out loud it goes through your “eye gate” and also your “ear gate” and
travels to the heart. It touches at
least two of the senses and renews your mind. Romans chapter 12, says that we
are changed (or transformed) “by the renewing of our mind.” We begin to be
freed from this awful and ungodly guilt with the Word. Jesus said, “You shall
know The Truth and The Truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). Here are some
verses that should help:
- “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
- Paul asks if God The Father will bring a charge against us. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:33. In other words God will not condemn us on judgment day, today, or any day. God will only justify us, “It is God who justifies.” The Father is too busy justifying us, that is His job, NOT to ever condemn. As The Righteous Judge, He will NOT bring a charge against us but declare us “justified” because of the blood of Jesus.
- What about Jesus? When we
sin what does He do? “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more
than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34).
Jesus has the right to condemn, God has given Him the right to judge. But
no, for those of us who have trusted Him for salvation He only, “is at the
right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” To intercede means to plead our case. Jesus says, “Father
I died for that one. My perfect life was credited to his/her account. My
perfect blood and perfect sacrifice perfectly paid for all of their sins
(past, present,
- If we sin and blow it here
is another verse. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will
not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in
our defense (intercedes)—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our
sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2
- If we walk in the light
(which means to admit we have sinned instead of hiding in the dark of
secret) “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin….If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
·
Colossians 1 is only translated accurately in the
New Living Translation “ 22 Yet now
he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical
body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you
are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly
in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good
News.” (NLT)
– Did you get that? God sees you as holy and blameless! That is true freedom
from guilt.
- Ephesians 1:4-6 says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” In Christ you are “holy and without blame” and you are “accepted in The Beloved.” That means God accepts you completely because you are IN His Beloved Son Jesus.
Some More Practical Tips
Other truths you should consider is
that hey, you are human. If you blow it and hurt someone with your words, and
you ask for their forgiveness, then there is no reason to continue to feel
guilty. You need to let yourself know that, “Hey I’m human, God forgives me and
I am not bad. God loves me and He made me unique, special, and “HE DON ’T MAKE NO JUNK!!” If you can’t do it for
yourself then do it for God. Do you want to insult God and say He did a bad job
in making you? I didn’t think so. If you keep saying, “I am a terrible person,
I don’t deserve to live, etc” you are insulting God. I am not trying to make
you feel worse but just maybe if you won’t stop beating yourself up
for your sake, you
will for God’s sake….to glorify Him! It is not arrogant to admit that you are
God’s artwork. In fact, in Ephesians 2:10 that is the exact word used about you. You
are God’s “artwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Be gentle with
yourself because Jesus commands us to be gentle with people. You are a person
and that includes you!! Be kind to yourself. I say again you are God’s work of
art!!
And also, you are human just like the
rest of us. Are you kind to others when they mess up but then apologize to you?
Treat yourself like you would treat them! God doesn’t have higher standards for
you. You are not the one person in the world that God expects to be perfect.
Even the Apostle Paul still sinned. He still struggled GREATLY with sin:
Ro 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For
what I want to do I do not do, but what I
hate I do.
Ro 7:16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I
agree that the law is good.
Ro 7:17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who
do it, but it is sin living in me.
Ro 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me,
that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the
desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Ro 7:19 For what I do is not the good I want to
do; no, the evil I do not want to do— this I keep on doing.
Ro 7:20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it
is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living
in me that does it.
Ro 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want
to do good, evil is right there with me.
Ro 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s
law;
Ro 7:23 but I see another
law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of
sin at work within my members.
Ro 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who
will rescue me from this body of death?
Ro
7:25 Thanks
be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Who will
rescue us from our bad habits and sin? Yes, there is freedom in Christ and God
can free us from our bad habits and addictions. God promises, according to Paul
in verse 25 that Jesus will make us better and better. Relax a little if you
are hard on yourself. I used to think that after Pentecost (when Jesus rose
again, went to Heaven, and gave The Holy Spirit) that Peter never sinned again.
That is WRONG!!!!! Peter still sinned
and in the records of the Bible it shows that one time he even backslid really
badly. Peter really blew it one time, and in front of a whole congregation. But
first let’s look at his transformation (and then we’ll look at how he blew it
and sinned big time).
Peter WAS
much more victorious and bold after He received the Spirit. The same man that
denied Christ became the fearless leader that started proclaiming Christ to the
very people that crucified Christ. God changed him so much that he was brave
enough to be whipped and put into prison. That should give us hope. However, he
was still human. Be comforted by this story.
Bold Peter
went to Antioch . He was eating with
Gentiles (non-Jews) and proclaiming the freedom from the burden of rules of the
Old Covenant. But when “Christians” who were stricter than him, teachers that
intimidated him showed up, he turned coward again. Read the record from
Galatians written by Paul but inspired by God.
Gal 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch
Gal 2:12 Before certain men came from James, he
used to eat with the Gentiles. But when
they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged
to the circumcision group.
Gal 2:13 The other Jews joined him in his
hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
Gal 2:14 When I saw that
they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all,
“You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to
follow Jewish customs?
Gal 2:15 “We who are Jews by birth and not
‘Gentile sinners’
Gal 2:16 know that a man is not justified by
observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the
law, because by observing the law no one will
be justified.
Gal 2:17 “If, while we seek to be justified in
Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves
are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!
Gal 2:18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove
that I am a lawbreaker.
Gal 2:19 For through the law I died to the law so
that I might live for God.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I
no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gal
2:21 I do not set
aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
How embarrassing, can you imagine? Yet
Peter, who was older and a more widely known leader than Paul, was rebuked in
front of everyone (by the younger and less experienced Paul). Why? Because he
became a coward again just like the time he denied Christ. But this time it
wasn’t quite as bad. Peter had grown. Like the rest of us he had taken two
steps forward and one step back, then three steps forward and two steps back.
We fall down, get back up, go a little farther, fall, go far, stumble, run
great distance, fall, and so it goes. But the main point is this; Peter still
sinned and blew it from time to time. Yes he got better but he was human just
like us. James the great Pastor of the Jerusalem church said, “We all stumble in many
ways” (James 3:2). So be encouraged, if
they are great Apostles and they still blew it, are you better than them? That
would be arrogant. Give yourself grace - WORK ON ACCEPTING FORGIVENESS. Read this verse
from Hebrews, “It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace” (Hebrews 13:9). You are human. Be kind to
yourself too! God wants you to be kind and Christlike to all people, including YOU. God loves you and so do I!
So, quit beating yourself up. Quit punishing yourself. Jesus already took the
beating and the punishment and God is satisfied with that!
Unfortunately many sincere, but
confused, Christian pastors are preaching condemnation and teaching a “worldly
sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10). They are actually going against God’s will and may not even know it.
True, we should preach and instruct believers against sinning. The New
Testament, even though it is full of grace, does have commands for us to obey.
We can’t be watered down or afraid to address sin. But we should do it in a
manner that brings “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and
leaves no regret.” God’s Spirit
will tell believers (that includes me), “You are going astray in this area.
This will be harmful for your spiritual life and for others. Repent and go in
the path of righteousness.” When we admit (the word confess means to simply
agree and admit) that He is right and we repent and accept His correction, we
are immediately forgiven. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1
John 1:9)
A Few More Practical Tips
- Reach out to a trusted friend, pastor, or family member who will
help you and pray for you. Make sure it is someone who will not gossip and
share your problem with others nor be harsh with you.
- Get in a Bible Study on Grace or a Men’s Prayer Group that is full
of loving and merciful (i.e. Christlike) men.
- If needed see a Christian Counselor. Make sure he is Biblical in
His approach. He needs to be a true Christian Counselor who believes God’s
Word, because It (The Bible) is The Truth that sets us free. (John 8:32)
- Be sure you are listening to “grace” teachers that both address
sin but also do it in a manner of grace. Just to name a few: Chuck
Swindoll, Steve Brown, Malcolm Smith, Max Lucado, and Tullian Tchividjian.
Remember “there is NO condemnation for thoseof us in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1 If you feel condemned that is the devil, or it is your own flesh
(and confusion) but NOT God. God will never condemn you but gently correct you.
Remember “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves
no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians
7:10). Godly sorrow doesn’t make you
feel terrible but just makes you repent, get back on the right path, accept
God’s forgiveness, and move on. God doesn’t remember our sins once He forgives
us, why should you? Hebrews 10:17
says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Are you going to call God a liar? If God forgives
you then why can’t you forgive yourself? Are you greater than God. No my dear
brother or sister. You are loved, you are a work of art, and you need to just
confess your sin and picture God running to you, kissing you, putting a ring on
your finger, a royal, robe on your back, throwing a big party and dancing and
singing. In Luke 15 Jesus PROMISED this is what God does every time we confess.
He RUNS TO FORGIVE US!!!!
Luke 15:20 , 22, 24-25 “But
while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with
compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick!
Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on
his feet…. Bring the fattened calf and
kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found.’ So they began to celebrate…..the older son was in the field. When he
came near the house, he heard music and dancing.”
Every time you begin to confess your sin God runs to you, tackles you,
kisses you, and throws a party with singing and Him dancing His feet off.
Accept His forgiveness, mercy, love, and grace. He died so that you would.
Forgive yourself and love yourself – He does!
Conviction: Healthy
“Guilt”
So we have talked about false guilt,
but what about healthy guilt for something we have done wrong? I prefer to use
the word, “conviction.” When we do something wrong The Holy Spirit lovingly
convicts us. He tells us inwardly, “that is wrong what you did, confess your
sins to God so you can be forgiven, and I will help you to correct this.” But
remember from the verses at the first of the chapter, “it results it repentance
without regret.” It is like this. We are going down a wrong road, a bad path.
He warns us but maybe we don’t listen. When we do something wrong He tells
lovingly and graciously tells us, “That is wrong, let me help you to correct
this.” But He does NOT shame, never. And He never condemns, “For there is NO
condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). His goal is not to make
you feel terrible about yourself but to realize that you sinned and feel
convicted enough to 1) Ask God for forgiveness 2) Ask the person you offended
for forgiveness and if need be 3) Make restitution (if you stole, to return the
item to the person or pay them back, if you lied to go tell that person you
lied and then tell them the truth, etc.
With healthy guilt or conviction, you
feel guilt about the sin, you badly about what you did (the action) but NOT
about yourself. Do you understand? You see that the action is wrong but you do
NOT feel that you are wrong, or that there is something wrong with you. A
better way to say it is that Godly Conviction (or healthy guilt) NEVER causes
you to beat yourself up. You just confess your sin, get back on the right path
and move on. You don’t need to keep asking for forgiveness. God forgave you the
first time you asks and God “forgets our sins and remembers them no more.”(Hebrews
8:12). Once you ask for forgiveness, you don’t need to keep asking. When you do
(if you listen, if you believe the Bible) God says, “I forgave you the first
time.” When you confess it again God says, “I don’t remember that sin, it’s
already forgiven and forgotten. I can’t recall what you are talking about.”
Hallelujah!!! So “godly sorrow” or “true conviction of the Holy Spirit” moves
you to right the wrong, quickly get back on the right path, and then MOVE
ON!! It’s over with and you’re forgiven. God does NOT remember it anymore, so
why should you?
Now some of us have a overly guilty
conscience that is NOT from God but could stem from 1) Being raised in an
overly strict church or home that is shaming 2) Just the way we are wired 3)
Satan is working overtime for his name means “accuser of the brothers” or 4)
You could have a chemical imbalance (OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. But
those constant condemning thoughts are NOT from God. If #4 is true there is
NOTHING to be ashamed of, it’s just that your brain “gets stuck” and needs
medication that balances the serotonin (the chemicals) in your brain. That will
help those constant guilty thoughts fade away (along with Bible Study, prayer,
and faith in Jesus’. And also along with getting grace oriented Christians to
help you (there’s nothing to be ashamed of when asking for help. We ALL
have weaknesses and need help sometimes).
Before I end this chapter I will share
one more Biblical passage found in Zechariah 3. “Zec 3:1 Then he showed
me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right
side to accuse him. 2 The LORD
said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke
you, Satan! The LORD, who has
chosen Jerusalem , rebuke you! Is
not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’ Zec 3:3 Now
Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4
The angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Take off his filthy
clothes.’ Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will
put rich garments on you.’ Zec 3:5 Then I said, ‘Put a clean turban
on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the
angel of the LORD stood by.” When we put our faith in Christ and repent,
God cleans us up and clothes us in white garments!!I will end with the second verse to
“There is a Fountain”:
“The dying thief
rejoiced to see that fountain in his day. And there may I though vile as he was
all my sins away.
Wash all my sins away
Wash all my sins away
And there may I though vile as he
was all my sins away.” 2
1. There Is a Fountain. William Cowper.
Conyer’s Collection of Psalms and Hymns,, 1772.
2. Ibid
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