Overcoming Guilt

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

God loves us and longs to fellowship with us. He draws near to us when we draw near to His presence. However, guilt has been the greatest barrier that keeps believers from the presence of God. Though Christ has fully redeemed us and forgiven us of our sins, many Christians still labor under the load of guilt that leaves them feeling separated from God. Why is that so? Because we have an enemy. Revelation 12:10 tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. His main job everyday is to make the believer aware of his sins, accusing him and robbing him of the victory that Jesus has won for us on the cross of Calvary.

How do we overcome the devil and his accusations? Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” It is by our testimony of what the blood of Jesus has accomplished for us. If we don’t confess by faith the power of the blood of Jesus and what it has accomplished for us, the blood will remain ineffective and we will come under the guilt trap.

What does the Word of God say about the blood of Jesus?

1. The blood brings redemption from Satan’s power. We are no longer slaves to the devil, but we are redeemed through Jesus’ shed blood to become children of God (Eph. 1:7).
2. The blood brings forgiveness of sins. We are free from judgment and condemnation because Jesus’ shed blood brings forgiveness of all our sins (Eph. 1:7).
3. The blood cleanses us from all sin. Through Jesus’ shed blood, not only are our sins forgiven, we are washed as white as snow (1 John 1:7).
4. The blood brings justification. Through the blood, we have been made righteous and God restores to us a right standing with Him “just as if” we have never sinned (Rom. 5:9).
5. The blood brings sanctification. Jesus’ blood makes it possible for us to belong to God; to be truly holy and set apart to Him (Heb. 13:12).

Therefore let us boldly declare and testify of what the blood of Jesus has accomplished for us. There is no condemnation and guilt imposed on believers who have received by faith Jesus’ redemptive work through His blood. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His fl esh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:19-23).