The Voice of Guilt and Grace
All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name
everyone who believes in Him will receive remission of sins.
Romans 3:24
…and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that came by Christ Jesus
In order to truly appreciate the forgiveness that we have received through God’s Grace, we need to look at life without that action. A person who is living without faith in forgiveness, lives a life with much guilt in it. We are told in the Bible that everyone, even non-believers, know the law, and if you know the law, you will have a nagging voice in your mind saying, “This is not right.” That voice is guilt, and guilt can be a totally consuming thing.
So, what does it mean to the believer to have trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins? It means the ability to look forward to everything that happens in your life in a very positive light. Even though you try to avoid sin, it does happen. The result for the faithful Christian is to be repentant of your sins, known or unknown, and accept through your faith that you are forgiven by the Grace of God.
This season we are in is called the penitential season. It is a period of inner searching, a time to accept the part we each played in Christ’s crucifixion through our sinful life. Not with a guilty heart, but with a penitent heart and the full realization that comes Easter morning, we are once again reminded that forgiveness is with us always.
Prayer: Father, You have done so much for me as a sinful person.
I ask that You help me, especially in this Lenten season, to be fully aware of the great sacrifice
You made for me and the world, when You sent Your Son as a living sacrifice.
Let the faith I have be firm and strong in the belief that through Your Son’s suffering,
I will always have the forgiveness of sins. Amen.
