GUILT

MANY SINCERE CHRISTIANS ARE CARRYING A VERY HEAVY BURDEN OF GUILT FOR PAST SINS. SATAN WANTS TO KEEP A PERSON CONDEMNED. OFTEN INDIVIDUALS NEED HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD HAS FORGIVEN THEIR PAST SINS AND THAT HE CLEANSES FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (1 JOHN 1: 9). WHEN GOD FORGIVES OUR SINS HE REMOVES THEM AS FAR FROM US AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST (PSALM 103: 12).

SATAN WANTS PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO REMEMBER THEIR SHORTCOMINGS AND TO DWELL UPON THEM; BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO THIS, THEY CANNOT MOVE FORWARD FOR GOD. IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FULLY ACCEPT AND UNDERSTAND THAT GOD HAS FORGIVEN. ALSO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY FORGIVING THEMSELVES. FORGIVENESS MUST BE RECEIVED AND THE SIN PUT IN THE PAST AND FORGOTTEN.

GUILT AND FORGIVENESS

BECAUSE GOD HAS FORGIVEN US, WE DO NOT HAVE TO CARRY A BURDEN OF GUILT. BUT IN DEALING WITH THE AREA OF BEING FORGIVEN WE NEED TO CONSIDER FORGIVENESS FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW ALSO. WE NEED TO FORGIVE OTHERS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS. JESUS SAID IN TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY, “FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.” MATTHEW 6: 12.

SCRIPTURES ON GUILT

“AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR HATH HE REMOVED OUR TRANSGRESSIONS FROM US.” PSALM 103: 12

“COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW: THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL.” ISAIAH 1: 18

“I WILL FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO MORE.” JEREMIAH 31: 34

“HE THAT HEARETH MY WORD, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION; BUT IS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.” JOHN 5: 24

“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

“FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.” PHILIPPIANS 3: 13, 14

“THEIR SINS AND THEIR INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE.” HEBREWS 8:12

“THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.” 1 JOHN 1: 7

“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” 1 JOHN 1: 9

SCRIPTURES ON FORGIVENESS

“IF THOU BRING THY GIFT TO THE ALTAR, AND THERE REMEMBERED THAT THY BROTHER HATH OUGHT AGAINST THEE, LEAVE THERE THY GIFT BEFORE THE ALTAR, AND GO THY WAY, FIRST BE RECONCILED TO THY BROTHER, AND THEN COME AND OFFER THY GIFT.” MATTHEW 5; 23, 24

“IF YE FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU: BUT IF YE FORGIVE NOT MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.” MATTHEW 6: 14, 15

“THEN CAME PETER TO HIM, AND SAID, LORD, HOW OFT SHALL MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST ME, AND I FORGIVE HIM? TILL SEVEN TIMES? JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I SAY NOT UNTO THEE, UNTIL SEVEN TIMES: BUT, UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.” MATTHEW 18: 21, 22

“BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.” EPHESIANS 4: 32

“YOU BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES.” COLOSSIANS 3: 12, 13

“PUT ON THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, BOWELS OF MERCIES, KINDNESS, HUMBLENESS OF MIND, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING:  FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, IF ANY MAN HAVE A QUARREL AGAINST ANY; EVEN AS CHRIST FORGIVE YOU, SO ALSO DO YE.” COLOSSIANS 3:12, 13

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAITH THE LORD, I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND IN THEIR MINDS WILL I WRITE THEM: AND THEIR SINS INQUIRES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE. HEBREWS 10: 16, 17