Dealing with the Problem of Sin and Guilt
It is not unusual for Christians to feel guilty because of sin in their lives, and to have problems dealing with that guilt and sin. We think that once we have become Christians, we will no longer have a struggle with sin, and that through Christ we will have power to overcome it. Actually, Paul talks about his struggle with sin in Romans 7:18,19: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.”
When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we experienced the wonderful cleansing power of His blood, which was shed on the cross for us over 2,000 years ago. We had an overwhelming feeling of freedom and release from the bondage of sin and death when we first repented from our old lives and turned to Christ. Then, the following dilemma began to occur as the weeks and months went by – we found ourselves tempted to return to sinful patterns of thinking and acting. It became difficult to accept that we would still continue to sin because we are children of the King: righteous, new creations in Christ, called to be holy as He is holy.
Life Lesson: Time management
Are you still growing spiritually?: Check your compass and let God lead you
But the truth is, we are still sinners and will always battle with sin in our lives because we are inwardly bent towards sin. That is the reason God says in His Word that we need to confess our sins and rely on His promise to cleanse us:
- “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ – and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).
- “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
- “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).
- “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
These verses remind us that:
- As Christians we will still sin.
- Though we are commanded not to sin, there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
- When we sin, there is a way to restore fellowship with God:
- Confess that sin to God and to others.
- Repent from the sin, asking God to change the direction of our lives.
- Pray for each other; ask someone to pray for us.
- Trust that God’s promises are true: He has forgiven us and no longer condemns us.
Who we still are
Sometimes pride keeps us from admitting our sin or keeps us from forgiving ourselves when we sin as Christians. When this happens we need to tell ourselves the truth about who we still are… sinners saved by grace. Don’t let pride keep you from enjoying your relationship with God and don’t believe that you are now above the need for God’s ongoing grace in your life.
You can begin living in God’s grace and accept His ongoing, unconditional forgiveness for the sins you still battle, or the memory of past sin in your life. Realize that as a Christian, you still need to recognize and confess sin in your life. You can have grace for yourself based on God’s grace and forgiveness for you when He paid the penalty for all your sins once and for all through His Son’s death on the cross 2,000 years ago.
Begin to bask in the forgiveness of Christ! You are no longer condemned. You are forgiven! You are His child. You can make a new start every time you sin… just sincerely confess it and ask God to change you from the inside out. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” If you have repeatedly fallen into the same sin such as pornography, lying, unforgiveness, substance abuse, gossiping, etc., then go to your pastor, a mentor or a Christian counselor and ask for their guidance, prayer, and instruction on how to begin to flee the temptation to sin, to be accountable and to make amends for your sin.
Memorize the following Scriptures so that you can begin relying on God’s Word and the assurance of forgiveness He offers you in Christ, rather than the self-condemnation you may be thinking and feeling.
- “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:10-14, italics mine).
- “In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7, italics mine).
- “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:10-12, italics mine).
Remember that God’s love “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). We don’t know our hearts very well, but God knows us and His forgiveness is complete and eternal because Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for our sins and “not for our sins only, but the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).
this article helps me a lot, to remember God’s word…thanks.. God deserves the Glory, adoration thanksgiving and victory..thank you God the Father the Son and Holy Spirit..apart from God we are nothing God bless everyone!!!
This is such wisdom Tim.
It is written that when we resist the devil he will flee. The key though is to resist the right way. Quote those scriptures that apply to your temptation and then while quoting, make sure you don’t rely on your own strength (I’m not 100% sure exactly what that means) and THEN the devil will flee from you.
You touched on something very key God’s word is living and powerful as a two edged sword! Jesus showed us the way to overcome any temptation is through knowing and living in God’s Word. However, memorizing or speaking mere words in our own strength is not enough. The living Spirit of God’s Word is what empowers us to overcome all temptation. The Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead who daily empowers us to overcome all temptation and live in the fullness of our inheritance as a child of God.
Thanks for this reminder. Let us set our hearts to grow in deeper relationship with Holy Spirit every day.
I want to thank you for what you have written. In my own battles I have failed so often it has taken away my hope and left me in despair. It was not until recently that I discovered the real nature of my own failure – not following in Jesus’ footsteps. We are all tempted by our own desires. When Jesus was tempted (it must have been by His own desires) He resisted the devil. But HOW did He resist the devil? It is written… He quoted scripture. The first scripture I ever learned, back in 1990 was Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. I have failed to live up to that. Knowing scripture and being able to quote it back to the devil during those temptations is powerful. It is written that when we resist the devil he will flee. The key though is to resist the right way. Quote those scriptures that apply to your temptation and then while quoting, make sure you don’t rely on your own strength (I’m not 100% sure exactly what that means) and THEN the devil will flee from you.
May God grant us all the insight into His word to use it as the 2-edged sword it is.
God bless.
Great and grand is the love of of Father through Christ.
Thank you for this article I spent many years strugglering with the sinful nature of mine yet I was saved but glory to God who taught me and continue to give me the good news of salvation by grace. Thank you for this article found while reading more on sin and guiltiness of sin. God bless you all. See you in heaven as we have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus and no doubt we have heavenly home in Christ Jesus.
thank you for the article– i ahve dealt with sin and guilt, its not easy– you are right lucy love does cover a multitude of sin if we ask for forgiveness from God and he will forgive us and he wil cleanse us from all sin, he died so we can be saved ahd forgiving. what a GREAT God we serve
I was feeling an overload of sins, a guilt that i could’nt be forgiven for sins i have committed but his love cover a multitude of sins like his word says. I thank the lord for placing your website across me it truly helped me to understand. His Grace is sufficient & He deserves all Praises!!!! God Bless everyone :)
thanks…………what a awesome god we serve, he will never leave us or forsake us…. as the shepherd leaves the flock to go fetch after the lost sheep…. to bing him back ……………. he has restored me thankyou jesus
JJ, you have hit the nail right on the head! Yours is the response of one who has been forgiven: it starts with thanksgiving and then moves to action. In Revelation we learn about how the followers of Jesus are able to overcome the guilt and shame that Satan tries to weigh us down with. In Revelation 12:10,11 we read “For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;” Your thankfulness and praise here is your word of testimony. You are overcoming Satan’s attempt to accuse you. But as Lynette quoted “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
What are the ways that Satan tries to hamstring you with accusations?
I NEEDED THIS…I’M TRUELY GRATEFUL TO GOD. THANK YOU GOD FOR FORGIVING MY SINS. PLEASE GUIDE MY STEPS FROM NOW ON, IN JESUS NAME,,,AMEN
thank you,its been a struggle,i understand the place of Gods forgiveness in our lives, and to workout my salvation
Thank you for helping me in a difficult time.
This is really great…Thank you very much for the spiritual words you share.Shalom!
really helpful!
this is jus so ispiring………. GOD’S LOVE ENDURETH FOREVA
Thanks so much! I needed to hear/read that. God bless you.
Thank the Lord for this!!…Really helped me so much!! God you are awesome!!!
thanks for this eye opener……GOD bless you.
This was really helpful. Thanks