What Scripture Says
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matthew 6:14)."In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.... For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8,9).
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.... That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation" (Romans 6:23; 10:9,10).
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
What To Do With Guilt
Have you been saved by asking Christ to come into your heart? If so, then you have assurance of your salvation. Some try to resolve their guilt through penance. Some have never forgiven themselves even after asking God to forgive them.It is important to repent (resolve to reform) of any wrongdoing for which you are clearly guilty. Make restitution for any wrongs, if at all possible. When you have repented, God will remove the guilt of your sins. There is freedom from condemnation when you are in Christ (Romans 8:1).
If someone said or did something that makes you feel guilty, and it is not deserved, don't harbour hurt feelings or unforgiveness in your heart. Don't seek vengeance or do anything for which you should feel guilty. Instead, ask God to forgive anyone who acts wrongfully towards you or accuses you. Also, ask Him for His unconditional love and help in resolving the conflict. If possible, tell the person who you feel has wrongfully accused you that you forgive him or her.
Feelings of guilt and shame as a result of any verbal, mental, physical or sexual abuse you have suffered are not caused by sin which you have committed, but rather from a sense of powerlessness. You may need healing from the trauma you have experienced. It also may be necessary to seek professional Christian counselling to help you face and deal with your confusion and pain.
God wants to free you from anything that would hinder you from experiencing abundant life and liberty in Him. Christ has taken your guilt upon Himself. You are free from guilt the very moment you believe in your heart and confess it with your mouth.
As You Pray
Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to completely forgive you for every sin you have ever committed. Receive Christ's joy in your life. As you thank and praise Him, release your burden of guilt to God. Be sure to intercede for anyone else who may have been involved in the situation for which you were burdened.Suggested Reading
1 John 1:7-9 God's light dispels darknessJohn 1:12; 5:24; 8:36 Belief in Christ delivers us from sin
Romans 6:18,22; 8:1 Freedom from sin and guilt
Colossians 2:13-22 Assurance of our salvation
Psalm 103:12 Our sins completely removed
Isaiah 1:18 Sins are cleansed
Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12 God forgets our sin
Philippians 3:13,14 The prize of God's high calling
Read Freedom Of Forgiveness by David Augsburger, Healing Grace by David Seamands, and Search For Significance by Robert McGee. Crossroads is happy to help. In fact, that's the whole reason we exist as a ministry. The daily 100 Huntley Street telecast and the 24-hour-a-day Telephone Ministry line are here for the same reason. You may want to call us as you are reading this: 1-866-273-4444
God loves you and we love you! Please give us the privilege of doing our best to help more. For further ministry, you may contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre by writing to:
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
Attn: National Ministry Centre
PO Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4M2
