“The Baggage of Guilt”
January 13, 2008
Me: We all carry baggage. It weighs us down and burdens us so that we are not able to do what we would really like to do. (Use luggage to demonstrate).
Traveling through the airport with Alana and the kids trying to make the plane with a bunch of baggage was tough. That is how we often go through life.
We: What kind of baggage are you carrying?
Guilt, broken dreams, broken relationships, hurt, etc.
Today we want to look at what the bible has to tell us about guilt and how we can really be free from the guilt of our past.
Guilt= a sense of shame for doing wrong.
God does not want us to live in guilt, but rather to overcome guilt through the blood of Jesus.
God:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” Ephesians 2:1-3
The guilt of our sin, made us spiritually dead.
Humanity naturally sees out our own human desires and our own pleasures. That is why we live with so much guilt because we know deep down that what we are doing is not honoring to God.
So if everyone is guilty, then doesn’t it make sense we should live as though we are guilty?
Only if you have never been forgiven. When you seek forgiveness and receive forgiveness, you no longer need to live guilty.
Our guilt was dealt with by Jesus Christ.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7
God, because of his love for us, paid the price for our sin with the blood of Jesus. He freely gave us new life.
When we accept God’s forgiveness, we are spiritually placed in heaven with Christ.
Since we are raised with Christ in heaven we do not need to live in the guilt of our sin. In heaven there is no guilt.
When the bible talks about our living with God in eternity, it tells us that there will be no more weeping or pain or mourning.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
For those forgiven of their sin through Jesus Christ this should be the reality in which we live our lives.
This does not mean we can simply do whatever we want and no worry about sin. God has called us to live as he does and he wants us to avoid sin at all cost.
“What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 6:1
Sin should be the exception in our lives.
We are dead to sin and alive in Jesus.
“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 10:43
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14
The reality is that for those forgiven by Christ, we are free from the bondage of guilt.
Why should we not feel guilty about God’s grace?
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Our forgiveness is a gift from God.
Since we didn’t earn it, we can’t lose it. God never takes away his forgiveness from us.
Unhealthy guilt burdens us and keeps us from being who God created us to be.
Unhealthy guilt is an attack from our enemy who accuses us.
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” Revelation 12:10
Healthy guilt, or conviction, draws us to Christ.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
You: How do we overcome guilt?
• Confess
• Repent
• Live in freedom
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
We: Declaration of Freedom
Lord Jesus, I confess my guilt before you. I acknowledge that I have broken your laws. I ask for your forgiveness. Please help me to get rid of the baggage of guilt, and to live in freedom in Jesus Christ. Amen
