Guilt is good when it is real. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. When I feel guilty for my sin the Holy Spirit convicts me and produces an urgent desire to repent. Paul explained the process in 2 Cor. 7:10-11 when he wrote "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So guilt is good when it is real because it makes you want to repent and turn to God. But, "worldly sorrow brings death." Excessive and inappropriate guilt kills you. Once you feel the pain and make the change you need to let it go. Why do you keep holding on to it? Why do you kill yourself with ongoing thoughts of regret? Did you notice what Paul said? He said "Godly sorry leads to salvation and leaves no regret." It's over. Guilt has served it's purpose and you're back on track - God has forgiven you, your guilt is gone so don't preoccupy your mind with regret - it will kill you! God said "I will remember your sins no more." Now, since God forgave you and promised not to remember it why do you keep dwelling on it? It's "unreal" guilt because it's gone. The blood of Jesus has washed all your sins away. Another kind of guilt that is "unreal" is when you blame yourself for things you didn't do. Some people automatically assume responsibility for other people's problems (e.g. parents are bad about this) and feel guilty for things they didn't do. Now if you you contributed to a problem, apologize and make amends. But remember, guilt is only good when it is real. Stop killing your self with false guilt. Stop beating yourself up for things you didn't do. That's not what God wants. You don't please God when you feel guilty for things you didn't do. And God does not want you to continue to beat yourself up for past sins. Jesus was sufficiently beaten for your transgression - don't beat yourself as if you have something to pay. He absorbed all your punishment. Your guilt is gone and you're making changes gradually by his transforming Spirit - so be free! Your guilt is gone! Blotted out! Totally righteous! That's what God wants you to accept by faith. That's it. Trust Christ! Jesus did not die on the cross to make you feel guilty. Jesus died and rose again to set you free.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Guilt is only good when it is real
Guilt is good when it is real. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. When I feel guilty for my sin the Holy Spirit convicts me and produces an urgent desire to repent. Paul explained the process in 2 Cor. 7:10-11 when he wrote "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So guilt is good when it is real because it makes you want to repent and turn to God. But, "worldly sorrow brings death." Excessive and inappropriate guilt kills you. Once you feel the pain and make the change you need to let it go. Why do you keep holding on to it? Why do you kill yourself with ongoing thoughts of regret? Did you notice what Paul said? He said "Godly sorry leads to salvation and leaves no regret." It's over. Guilt has served it's purpose and you're back on track - God has forgiven you, your guilt is gone so don't preoccupy your mind with regret - it will kill you! God said "I will remember your sins no more." Now, since God forgave you and promised not to remember it why do you keep dwelling on it? It's "unreal" guilt because it's gone. The blood of Jesus has washed all your sins away. Another kind of guilt that is "unreal" is when you blame yourself for things you didn't do. Some people automatically assume responsibility for other people's problems (e.g. parents are bad about this) and feel guilty for things they didn't do. Now if you you contributed to a problem, apologize and make amends. But remember, guilt is only good when it is real. Stop killing your self with false guilt. Stop beating yourself up for things you didn't do. That's not what God wants. You don't please God when you feel guilty for things you didn't do. And God does not want you to continue to beat yourself up for past sins. Jesus was sufficiently beaten for your transgression - don't beat yourself as if you have something to pay. He absorbed all your punishment. Your guilt is gone and you're making changes gradually by his transforming Spirit - so be free! Your guilt is gone! Blotted out! Totally righteous! That's what God wants you to accept by faith. That's it. Trust Christ! Jesus did not die on the cross to make you feel guilty. Jesus died and rose again to set you free.
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1 comment:
This has been on my mind and my heart. I have been struggling on how to put this into words. We have to go through the Godly process to change. Thank you for posting this. God continues to use you to reveal things in my life:)
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