Overcoming Guilt
The Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer, convicts him of his sins and instills a healthy sense of guilt in him until he confesses and repents (John 16:8). Then, God forgives–immediately and fully and the man’s guilt of sins is forgiven. The Lord promised, “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). God doesn’t lie (Hebrews 6:18).
But some Christians although they believe their sins are forgiven still find it hard to feel freedom of guilt. Mentally, they understand that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their salvation, but emotionally they still feel guilty. These need to realize that feelings are not facts. They need to build their faith on God’s word not on their feelings.
The Bible should be the base of state of mind not our feelings. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8: 32). The truth is that Christ died for our sins, setting us free from guilt. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
Just because some still feel guilty does not mean they are. These have to take God at His word when He says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Once a person confesses his sins to God and repents, or “turns away” from sin, he can rest assured that God has forgiven him. If he still feels guilty after his sins has been forgiven, that’s not the Holy Spirit speaking to him but his own emotions or Satan making him feel guilty.
Believers need to claim God’s promise and believe it. God said, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25). And if they resist the devil’s doubts, they will be free from his lies. The Lord promised, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
