Why do many Christians feel spiritually heavy-laden, deeply entangled in anxiety, and guilt ridden?
Why do many Christians feel spiritually heavy-laden, deeply entangled in anxiety, and guilt ridden?
For those in this agonizing state I want to give one simple but critical truth. Memorize this truth. Feed on this truth. Let it take root in your spirit and mind and become an anchor in your life. If you do, you will never be the same. Are you ready? Here itis: As a child of God, no matter what happens in your life, your Father in heaven loves you dearly, and nothing you do can ever change this reality.
While our love for God can and does fluctuate, His love for us never changes. His love for us is based upon who He is and not upon what we do. God cannot stop loving us! He is too busy loving us to have time to be disappointed in us. Disapproval is not a part of His DNA. God's essence is love, and this love is unconditional.
This means Christians should and can deal with guilt by confronting it directly with the truth of the Gospel, rather than running from it through self-justification or self-punishment. At the moment of salvation, God declares us righteous (11 Corinthians 5:21), based upon the finished work of Christ (John 19:30; Romans 3:24), thus freeing us from the guilt and penalty of sin). This means from the moment of salvation on, God has forgiven all our sins – past, present, and future. They are gone…done…finished…paid for (John 19:30). We do not have to beg God for this. This truth is received, not achieved.
If this is true, why the need to continue repenting for our sins? Practicing repentance is for our sake. Repentance is the means by which we continue to experience the profound joy of who we are in Christ, and the freeing power of God’s love, acceptance, and forgiveness. The ultimate source of freedom from guilt is the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which allows for both confidence and bold repentance. True repentance begins by stopping "blame-shifting" and fully taking responsibility for our wrongdoing and sin.
The Gospel is the only framework which can resolve guilt, for it alone provides the basis for genuine forgiveness. God loves us, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has done for us. We cannot do more to move God to like or love us more. We cannot be “gooder” by reading the Bible more and praying more and obeying more. No! Give it up! Jesus paid it all. We really are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ – righteous, blameless, accepted, forgiven, sanctified, and holy (Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Hebrews 10:10 Jude 1:24; Colossians 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30). In Jesus Christ, this is our identity. In Christ, we are accepted, loved, and forgiven before God (Ephesians 1:6-7).
We want to please God; but oh, how we struggle. We cry out to God asking, “What can we do to please you?” And He says, “Dear child, I am already pleased. Quit trying to fix what does not need to be fixed. Stop trying to do what has already been done; and for which we can take absolutely no credit whatsoever.” Jesus loves us and accepts us, and it is all settled. There is nothing we can do!
Every day and every night until we die, we must continually believe and continually assure ourselves, it is not our obedience which makes our righteous better, nor our disobedience which makes our righteousness worse; for Christ is our righteousness. So, we must begin every day and end every night looking outward claiming by faith the wholly alien righteousness of Christ as the only ground for our acceptance before a holy God, relaxing in this truth to produce in us increasing holiness.
A conscience which does not fully trust in this magnificent position will fall prey to false narratives swirling in our minds - anxiety, pride, depression, sensuality, and all other expressions of despair which Kierkegard called, “The sickness unto death.”
Steps for confronting guilt:
Acknowledge and own your sin.
Trust in Christ's forgiveness.
Do not rely on self-forgiveness.
Accept your new identity. As a Christian, you are a "new creation" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Accepting God's forgiveness is essential for embracing this new identity and avoiding being trapped by shame and guilt.
Pray your feelings to God. Take feelings of guilt and shame to God in prayer. Rather than simply praying about them, pour them out in God's presence, processing them in light of who He is, and who we are before Him in Christ – spotless, blameless, righteousness, and holy.
PRAYER: Father, give us the assurance which says Your love for us is constant and we never need to try to earn or be worthy of Your grace or love. We praise You for Your undeserved, unmerited, and unearned favor in our lives. We declare with the Apostle Paul nothing, absolutely nothing –not our sins, failures, or mistakes – can separate us from Your love in Jesus Christ, our Lord. We thank You we are completely and irrevocably loved, forgiven, and accepted.
Amen.
Pastor Tom Anderson