Feelings of Guilt

Acts 9 : 1 – 2, Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. -NKJV

2 Corinthians 7 : 2, Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. -NKJV

Before the Lord saved Saul of Tarsus, he persecuted and imprisoned believers who were of the Way. The Way was the name of those who were a part of the early church. It was Saul who held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. His crime: He preached the truth that struck deeply into their hearts and for this, he died.

Saul had done so many horrible things to Christians, and they greatly feared him. He was passionate about his belief in Judaism.  He viewed the spread of Christianity as a threat to his religion; however, all that changed while he was riding to Damascus to arrest believers. However, that all changed while he was riding to Damascus to arrest believers. A light appeared to him, and the Lord spoke to Saul and asked why he was persecuting Him.

We must understand as Christians, whenever someone persecutes us for our faith in Christ, they’re not coming against us, but they’re persecuting the Lord. If we remember this truth, it can prevent us from taking the verbal assaults personally.

After the Lord spoke to Saul and he became a believer of Christ, instead of being the persecutor, he became the persecuted. The Jews turned on Saul after his conversion. The believing Jews were very skeptical and fearful of him, even after he received Christ. It was his past that Paul had to overcome so that he could preach the gospel of Christ.

Even though a person is born again, they can still have a guilt riddled conscience in their new walk of faith. It is at this point that many Christians can struggle with guilt and shame because of their past life in sin.

If you wrestle with guilt because of your past, remember Paul wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that he had wronged no one. You may ask how he could he write such a statement in the Bible when he had previously terrorized the church.

God saved Saul, and his name was changed to Paul. He is responsible for writing two-thirds of the New Testament. God not only forgave Paul of his sins, but He also revealed truths to Paul so that he could teach us how to be free from our past. If you’re saved, not only are your sins forgiven, but God’s truth has the power to free you from guilt.

One of the best revelations given to Paul by the Lord is in 2 Corinthians 5 : 17. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – (NKJV) Paul could write that he had wronged no one in truth and with a pure conscience. It’s not by our good works that we are able to earn a clear conscience. It is our faith in the work of Christ on the cross that frees us.

The enemy will use our past mistakes and sins to shame us, after we become born again. We must learn as Paul did. We are new creatures in Christ, and our past is erased by His precious blood.

Pastor Asa Dockery

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It's Friday, but Sunday is Coming

  Copy & paste this link into an email or instant message Or send the suggestion using your computer's email softwareEmail Blog to a friend 1 Corinthians 15 : 22 - 26, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. NKJV The validity of the entire Bible rests upon one event... the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Paul uses different terminology; nevertheless, the sentiment is the same. If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and our faith is also empty (or in vain.) Let's take this discussion to a deeper level. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead proved that He...
Read more

Caught Up in the Moment

Romans 12 : 1 – 2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - NKJV Luke 10 : 40 – 42, But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." - NKJV There’s nothing like watching children play with their new toys on Christmas morning. The excitement level in our sons would increase as the moment to open the gifts drew closer. Finally, the moment arrived, and the...
Read more

A Rightful Heir

Roman 8 : 14 – 17, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJV The Word of God declares that the promises of God in Christ are yes and amen. Do you have a need in your life? Have you sought the Lord for a while to have that particular need supplied? The Holy Spirit has given me a specific word to share with you today that you might have faith in your heart to receive your long awaited miracle or breakthrough. As human beings, who are recovering from the fall of man and learning how to live and operate in our new identity, we sometimes struggle with our faith when it pertains to us personall...
Read more