Forgiveness

Guilt is an inescapable companion that haunts the human heart. The apostle James teaches, "For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all."

As the biblical scholar Douglas Moo explains, "To violate a commandment is to disobey God himself and render a person guilty before him."

So every human being, in one way or another, wrestles with being guilty. It's a theme explored in the great stories of our culture—from Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky to Spider-Man's origin story, where guilt has defined Peter Parker's life ever since his Uncle Ben was murdered.

In a religious context, we may seek to assuage guilt through rituals, prayers, or good deeds. In counseling, we can process our guilt by changing our negative thinking or gaining self-compassion. There can be immense value in these resources.

At the same time, the root cause of guilt is our rebellion against God. So how can this problem actually be solved? Because our guilt is personal and relational, it can only be solved by the person we've offended.

**To our amazement, the one we've offended is the one who loves us.**

Romans 8:1-4 declares: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death."

I wish to emphasize that our guilt is not primarily alleviated by 'believing the gospel.' In a subtle manner, this message shifts the burden back to you and me: have we believed the gospel enough?

**Instead, Paul proclaims that God's redemptive work—His extraordinary quest to save us—has ensured there is no condemnation for us.**

God sent His Son to atone for our sins, and now, the Holy Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death. Our guilt is vanquished not by our own deeds or beliefs, but because God has paid the price for our sins, granting us forgiveness.

So what is our appropriate response to God's work? First and foremost, to worship God with joy! We celebrate what God has done for us!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law's requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Bring your guilt to God in prayer. Confess specific sins and receive His forgiveness.

Spend time thanking God for the freedom from condemnation that He has given you in Christ.