Guilt is often associated with punishment. Personal feelings of it lead to self-punishment. Familial guilt leads to punishment from our parents. Breaking federal or state laws leads to a guilty verdict in a court room and punishment by a judge. Disregard of God's law carries consequential risks now and punishment in the next world. For example, Romans 3:19 explains that because of our disobedience to the Lord we are exposed for judgment in a divine court room. The whole world is guilty before God. Why? How? We have abandoned Him and His ways. We have ignored Him. We have insulted Him. We have offended Him. We have belittled Him. We have disobeyed Him. We have disregarded Him. We have blasphemed Him. And on it goes. Now, that is some heavy guilt indeed.
But thankfully, the Bible doesn't leave us dead and condemned, without hope, joy, or redemption. Instead, according to I Cor 15:3-4, Christ (the perfect fulfillment of God's Word and will) died for our sins (taking our place, our guilty verdict and its death penalty), was buried and rose again the third day (victorious over sin and death). He lives today to welcome you and that whoever calls upon His name for mercy will be saved (delivered, redeemed, forgiven, declared "NOT GUILTY" in the court room of heaven). Christ did not become a sinner when He died on the cross, but as our substitute, He was judged as a sinner (you, me, and all the other wretches just like us), receiving the punishment and abandonment and death that we justly deserve for our sins. Having taken our place and punishment, He rose from the dead in the power of an endless life, and not only takes away our sin, its penalty, its guilt, and its control over us, but accredits His righteousness to our account. So when our Heavenly Father looks at you, dear Christ follower, He sees the perfect righteousness of His own Son Jesus Christ, and He is pleased and satisfied. Forever! (Rom 6:23)
In spite of the deep pangs from guilt that accompany an awareness that you have offended God in your thoughts, motives, words, and actions, the message of redemption is so simple and beautiful: "for God so loved the world, that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) And what is the result of that kind of faith? Freedom! If the Son of God sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) You will not be a sinner falling into the hands of an angry, offended God, but instead His child, fully and irrevocably adopted into His family, always welcome and wanted with Him. That's the home and family I want. I pray it's true for you too!
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