Overcoming Guilt
Introduction
1. One of the problems of the Christian life is guilt.
- Christians, of all people, should be free of guilt. (Eph. 1:13), but Christians are often guilt-ridden.
- This guilt is often found in the most dedicated and sincere of Christians.
- They feel they are unworthy, and wretched and can never do enough. (1 Jno. 3:20).
2. Let's take a look at the causes of guilt, the damage of guilt, and how to overcome it.
Causes of Guilt
- Some are guilty over sin - one particular sin or all sins.
- Sinful woman (Lk. 7:36-38).
2. Some are guilty over forgiven sin.
- God promises to forgive (Heb. 10:13; l Jno. 1:9), but they will not accept God's forgiveness.
- What they did was too bad, too awful.
- God can forgive others of their sins, but not their sins.
3. Some are guilty because they can never do enough.
- Some can never do enough because of guilt.
- Some can never do enough because of a perfectionist attitude.
- Some can never do enough because they are overwhelmed by the great needs of the lost and suffering.
4. Some are guilty because of their children.
- Their children did not turn out the way they wanted them to turn out.
- The children are Christians, but are weak or left the faith
- The children are not Christians
- Proverbs. 22:6 - This is general rule, but moral free agency makes it have exceptions.
If it did not have exceptions, those raised wickedly could not be converted.
If it did not have exceptions, those raised righteously could not be lost regardless of conduct.
5. Some are guilty because their children are handicapped.
- They blame themselves if a child has a birth defect.
- They blame themselves if a child was crippled in accident.
6. Some are guilty because of their parents.
- Guilt is often present because we neglected parents at some point.
- They feel more should be done for parents.
7. Some are guilty because men are dying lost.
- Some have mental breakdowns because of the lost.
- They feel they can or should save the whole world.
- We cannot save the whole world.
- We should try to save the lost, but there must be time for rest, recreation, and rejoicing or we will not survive mentally.
- We can teach those around us the gospel, and it is their responsibility to accept it.
- We are not accountable if men reject the gospel.
8. Some are guilty because there are hungry people in the world.
- We cannot feed the whole world.
- We can share what we have. (Eph. 4:28; Gal. 6:10).
9. Some people are guilty because what others have done.
- We should not feel guilty because of what someone else has done.
- Each one of us is individually responsible to God. (Gal. 6:5; Rom. 14:12).
10. Some people are guilty because lack of achievement.
The Damage of Guilt
1. Guilt is one of the most destructive, cancerous forces in the world.
2. It can destroy our appetite, our sleep, our health, our happiness, our effectiveness, our relationship with others.
How To Overcome Guilt
1. We must accept God's forgiveness (l Jno. 1:7, 9; Heb. 10:17).
2. We must accept the forgiveness of others
- Jesus has taught others to forgive us (Eph. 4:32).
- We must help others do what God has commanded.
3. We must forgive self.
- We must forgive self or we manifest distrust in God's forgiveness.
4. We must recognize the past cannot be changed.
- Some things can be changed. Restitution can be made.
- Other things can never be changed and if we had a 1,000 life times we could not change them.
- We must learn to accept the unchangeable.
5. We must do the best we can.
- This is all that God asks.
- He does not ask the impossible.
Conclusion
1. It is vital that we fight guilt in our lives.
2. Let us trust God, accept God's forgiveness, do the best we can, but not let guilt destroy us.