If God can forgive my sins, why can’t I forgive myself? Why do I still have guilt for sins that God forgave years ago?
 
This is a great question that everyone tends to struggle at some point within their lifetime. Past sins have a way of creeping up and robbing us from the joy of our relationship with God.
 
There are two kinds of guilt in the Bible. There is godly sorrow and then there is worldly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10). Godly sorrow that leads a person to repentance, which is known as conviction, this conviction comes directly from the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). Once a person repents, the guilt lifts, joy enters, and a sweet relief happens over the forgiveness of those sins. Then there is another kind of guilt, and that’s condemnation from the devil. The Bible says, “the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy…” (John 10:10). What a clever way for Satan to keep us from experiencing the joy that is in Christ? Satan loves to torment God’s people by reminding them of their past sins. Condemnation tears us down, makes us feel dirty, unworthy and robs us of the confidence of being child of God.
 
We don’t have to let Satan have a stronghold over our lives, there is victory in Jesus and our past mistakes our wiped clean. The apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 1:8). If God chose to forgive us, then who are we to hang on to something that God already let go of? This is a major source of bondage. Know the difference between conviction and condemnation.
 
For those who are in Christ Jesus, you are a child of the living God and He wants you to experience all that He has for you without the bondage of sin. To finish off John 10:10 Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” A full life is free from the stronghold of sin. Go back to John 8:1-11 and read the story of the adulterous women, read about the guilt that surrounded her life and put yourself in her shoes as she was throw at the feet of Jesus. Ask yourself, “what was Jesus’ response.” This story tends to bring me to tears, because even though my sin is not the same, I have felt that guilt before. I needed to hear, “then neither do I condemn you…” and I need to be reminded of that from time to time. 

Chase Baker, Student Pastor

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