Obtaining Victory Over Sin - NetBibleStudy.com

Victory Over Sin 20our conscience may trouble us, rehearsing the sins of our past in vivid detail. Or wemay just have a vague feeling of guilt, a confirmed suspicion that we’ve blown it againand will always be a second-class citizen in the kingdom of heaven.Living with guilt is like trying to drive the car with the brakes on. Guilt feelingscan produce many serious consequences:1. Physical illness is often caused by suppressed guilt. Some doctors haveestimate that nearly one-half of their patients could be released if they couldbe told with authority, “You are forgiven.” Christian Psychologist GaryCollins has written, “The mere energy of keeping the guilt out of one’s mind can puta strain on the body and cause it to break down.”2. Unresolved guilt causes depression. There’s that nagging feeling that, “We’veblown it,” and since we cannot retrieve the past, there is little use trying to livea fruitful life and feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness are generated.3. Guilt is often the cause for lack of faith in God. 1 John 3:21 states, “Beloved ifour heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.” I’ve discoveredthat perhaps the most widespread cause for doubt –- is guilt! A person whofeels impure will struggle with trust in God.4. Guilt causes people to punish themselves. For example some parents whosechildren have gone astray do not want to be free of guilt. Those who have made astudy of this tell us that parents whose children turn out wrong, sometimesbelieve they must pay for their children’s behavior, and that guilt is the priceof the ticket. Others take this a step further and interpret every tragedy asGod’s way of punishing them. Some even go so far as to actually long tobecome physically sick so that they will have the satisfaction of paying fortheir sins. Such guilt feelings are never appeased.5. Guilt often causes people to do good works. A husband brings his wifeflowers in the evening because he has shouted angrily at her that morning.Others give money to the church or are extra kind to a needy friend, hoping toatone for their wrongdoing. Some children who have rebelled against theirparents become burdened for social concerns and, may even give their life towork in the ghetto – or some similar situation. Rather then ask their parents’forgiveness, they unconsciously assume that their sacrificial spirit will balancethe books.However, good works never erase guilt. Good activity can suppress guilt, canhelp one to deny it, or to buy time with their conscience, but the guilt willsoon surface in another form.Resolutions to be more careful next time, or even the determination to become aself-sacrificing slave, can never erase the strain of guilt. Until a remedy is found that canbe applied to the guilt directly, it is there to stay. Fortunately, God has not left uswithout hope.