Living in Guilt

 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

True confession knows grace. R.J. Rushdoony

 

Many times over the years someone has said to me, “I just can’t forgive myself.”

In conversation she reveals that she committed a horrible sin (by her own determination), for some it has been many years and she continues to live in the guilt. When asked about repentance she admits that she has confessed the sin to God but does not “feel forgiven.”

The sins have varied but the self-loathing is the same. A Christian believes she has  done something so bad that though she confessed the sin to God, repented, and has made restitution and even been forgiven by someone sinned against, she cannot allow herself to be free of the guilt.

In his book, “The Cure of Souls,” R.J. Rushdoony repeats a quote from St. Bernard who said, “Sorrow for sin is necessary, if it [the sorrow] is not perpetuated.”

Rushdoony goes on to say, “The God of grace sees neither virtue nor merit in an endless mournfulness and misery over one’s sin. Such an attitude indicates an unawareness of forgiveness and grace. It knows Golgotha, but not the empty tomb and the joy of resurrection.”

He later adds, “Confession means praise, and it means praise because true confession knows grace. It is God-centered, not man-centered.”

Do we praise God in our confessions? It is easy to imagine that when we “confess that Jesus is Lord,” we praise Him. But, the “confession of sin” being made to God indicates that we understand the grace of God, the freedom that comes from releasing the guilt of those past sins, and accepting what God has promised as absolute truth. When we do that, we are praising Him and thanking Him.

“…for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Repentance is necessary for salvation and to continue to recognize our need for God’s grace. Beyond that, as Christians, we can choose to live in guilt or to live in grace.

When we confess with gratitude, praising God by faithfully following His Word regarding what sin is and His redemptive plan through Christ, He restores our fellowship with Him (Isaiah 59:2) and with other people.

My greatest fear for my sisters in the Lord who continue to live in the guilt of some past sin is that they have allowed their emotions to become idols – to be more important than their God. Further, guilt prevents us from being as productive, bold, thankful, or influential as we might be living in the grace and forgiveness of God.

None of us is worthy of forgiveness but if we’ve confessed and repented of our sin, then we can rely on the grace and promises of God.

What drives our understanding of the grace of God – our emotions or God’s Word?

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103:11-13