I have always struggled with guilt in my life. Either with my parents as a kid, with friends I have possibly offended, or with my heavenly Father. The guilt would keep me from confronting the root of my sin and seeing the forgiveness I had with my Father through Christ.
It became a “back and forth” relationship with Christ. I would avoid him until I finally became desperate enough to crawl back. Then, I was introduced to the book, The Gospel Primer, and the truth of the gospel began to come to life.
Through this Scripture-filled book, I learn that my status was fixed at the cross, and the guilt keeping me from the Lord was the enemy spreading his lies. When I feel a continued guilt for my sin, I am rejecting what Christ accomplished on the cross. He paid for my sin in full and when he saved me, he knew and forgave my past, present, and future sin. This means that when I sin and confess it to the Lord, he knows that I may commit the very same sin tomorrow, and yet he has still forgiven me and shown me mercy.
Now, when I have the feeling the Lord is disappointed with me, I remember the truth of God’s Word:
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
May we as followers of Christ remember that our status is fixed, our ransom is paid, and that we need to remind ourselves and each other of this daily in order to defeat the enemy’s schemes and lies.
~~ Leslie Hoyle