The Sins We Can’t Forget – Truth Talk with Dawn

This is a more extensive “truth talk” topic, but for those who struggle with guilty feelings, it’s crucial and can be life-changing.

For years, I struggled with guilt over past sins. While I knew mentally that I was forgiven by God, guilty feelings plagued and paralyzed me and hindered me from experiencing joy in ministry. The truth of God’s Word not only encouraged me, it also gave me the tools for victory and freedom.

TRUTH TALK Insight: Romans 8:1-2

WHO BEARS THE GUILT?

Paul says in Romans 8:1-2 (NIV).

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

God hates sin and must judge it. That’s why the Savior came to take the penalty we deserve. But on this side of heaven, believers will still sin. Guilt comes because we have broken God’s law and are all guilty before Him (Romans 3:10, 23). God’s Spirit who indwells us is grieved when we sin, and He causes us to feel guilty.

Regarding our past sins, we might say, “I can’t forgive myself,” but that’s not what frees us from guilt. We might say, “I don’t feel forgiven because I feel guilty—the guilt is still there.” We might legitimately say “I don’t feel forgiven” because we often cannot forget past sins, but the last part of that statement is entirely false.

If we are “in Christ Jesus,” there is “no condemnation,” no guilt remains in us. When a judge declares a person “not guilty” of committing a heinous crime like murder, the person might still feel guilty—and rightly so. Declaring a criminal “not guilty” does not remove feelings of guilt, humanly speaking, even though the criminal might be “set free.”

But that is not akin to the “no condemnation” mentioned in Romans 8. God devised a substitute for us to bear our guilt, so we do not need to bear it ourselves—not one minute longer!

Our Father sent His Son as our propitiation (atoning sacrifice)—to satisfy the wrath of God against our sins—because Jesus came to save us from our sins (1 John 4:4, 10).

In Christ, Jesus bore our sins on the cross, and God canceled the record of debt against us (1 Peter 2:24; Colossians 2:14).

Because our iniquities were laid on Jesus, He bore the curse that we rightly deserved (Isaiah 53:6; Galatians 3:13).

THE PRIMARY ISSUE

In Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts, I wrote, “God’s Word offers countless helps for hurting hearts, but God primarily offers salvation for sin-sick souls.” Believers can rejoice that there is now no condemnation in Christ, in our Savior. We no longer bear the burden of guilt. Our sins (past, present, and even future) are forgiven. He forgave us “all our sins”—they were nailed to the cross. In Him, we are now sanctified or made holy before the Father.

But still, there are those nagging FEELINGS, right? We can feel paralyzed with shame or regret.

We need to address our “guilt feelings” so we can walk in freedom with God. But how do we address those feelings?

Getting rid of guilty feelings isn’t the primary issue; purging them of everything sinful is. What I mean by that is, guilt feelings can be beneficial after we’ve removed anything that makes them sinful.

What might be sinful in guilt feelings? Here are some issues to consider:

Doubt—We might still entertain fear of God’s wrath when the Bible says His wrath is appeased in Christ’s sacrifice.
Despair—Because of past sins, we have feelings of depression or hopelessness that debilitate us.
Dread—We fear people might discover the ugliness of our sin. (Note: This is not about legitimate concerns because we refuse to deal with sin through confession, restitution, etc.)
Defeat—We feel that God cannot use us because of our sin.
Doctrinal error—We believe that we could have somehow been worthy of God’s grace before or after our sin.

Guilty feelings about past sins are beneficial when they drive us to repentance. When we re-examine those five sinful issues—doubt, despair, dread, defeat, and doctrinal error—we can address them through repentance. Repentance is a change of mind and heart that involves turning away from sin and toward God and a new way of living.

We might call guilty feelings a first step toward transformation. Embracing and responding to God’s perspective on our sins clears the way for the Spirit of God to work in us and make us more like Christ.

The Bible is clear that God’s grace and forgiveness are so complete that the sting of our sins is removed (Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:18-19). It’s not that God has no recollection of our sins, but that He purposes not to hold them against us (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12). His ultimate purpose is to make us holy.

Joshua the high priest once stood before God with filthy garments, but God sent an angel to clothe Joshua with “pure vestments” (Zechariah 3:1-5). Likewise, without Christ, our pure High Priest, we stand before God in “filthy rags.” When we trust in Christ’s sacrifice for us, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. As the old hymn says, we are “dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” Our sins “are forgiven”—a perfect participle meaning it occurred in the past but is continuing in the present.

Sometimes our past sins haunt us. King David said his sins were “ever before” him (Psalm 51:3). He had a lot of guilty feelings, and rightly so, but he confessed his sins (lust, adultery, causing a murder, vv. 1-15). Although there were severe consequences that would cause grief upon grief, confession brought God’s forgiveness. Psalm 51 is David’s Psalm of repentance, restoration, and renewal.

The blessed truth is, although we may grieve our past sins, because of God’s forgiveness, we no longer need to feel shame about them or “rehearse” them with regrets. The biblical response is to see them in light of God’s mercy and express continual, humble gratitude. Instead of languishing in guilty feelings, it’s far better and wiser to spend time rejoicing in our great salvation! Additionally, there are practical steps we can take.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO DEAL WITH GUILTY FEELINGS

Search Your Heart—Be courageous and ask God to show you past and current sins (Psalm 139:23-24). Be honest before the Lord.
Confess Sins—Whereas salvation initiates our relationship with God, confession of sin relates to our fellowship with Him. Respond to conviction from the Holy Spirit. Confess sins that He revealed, trusting the promise that God will forgive (Psalm 32:3-5).
Memorize Scriptures—Focus on verses that remind you of God’s forgiveness. For instance, despite your past, “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified” in Christ and by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11). You are now a “new creation” in Christ.
Make Amends—Whenever possible, make the situation right. Attempt to make amends or restitution for any harm your sin caused. [Note: This is often more than saying, “I’m sorry.”]
Practice the Discipline of Forgetfulness—Paul urges us to forget what is behind and strain forward to what lies ahead. Paul was a self-righteous blasphemer and persecutor before God changed his heart. Note his mindset in 1 Timothy 1:13-15. Paul consciously chose to forget and leave behind past sins—sins God had forgiven. But he didn’t stop there. Paul also decided to press forward in his calling from God. Discipline in both—forgetting and pressing forward—shows we believe what God has said about our sins.
Deal with the Enemy’s Accusations—Guilty feelings can arise whenever Satan attacks because he is “the accuser” by trade. When the devil relentlessly accuses you after you have confessed sin and tried to make amends, reflect on Psalm 103:8-12. God does not accuse us; in Christ, we are not condemned. God does not treat us as our sins deserve. Satan’s accusations against us fall on deaf ears (Romans 8:33). When the Enemy accuses you, remind him where he’s going—and that he is under God’s judgment. Then focus on Jesus and what He has done for you.
Live a New Life of Holiness—In the same passage that reminds us about the ugliness of our past, we see the admonition to honor God because we are “not our own.” God calls you to holy living now, regardless of past sins (1 Peter 1:15-16). God wants you to “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Seek Help If You Struggle—Don’t hesitate to seek help, support, or encouragement to believe what God has said regarding your sins. It is for freedom that Christ has set you free, and sometimes we need assistance as we learn to stand in that freedom (Galatians 5:1).

God’s truth talk regarding past sins is this: It’s wonderful and freeing to have the heavy cloud of guilt removed from our lives through salvation, and God can help us deal with any residual feelings that remain.

Does the Enemy tie you in knots over past sins? Which biblical truths can help you overcome guilty feelings and live in the freedom of your salvation in Christ?

Dawn Wilson, founder and director of Heart Choices Today, is the creator of Truth Talk with Dawn. She is a regular columnist at Crosswalk and Arise Daily. Dawn’s co-authored book is Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts: Discover Peace and Comfort Through God’s Perspective. She and her husband live in sunny Southern California. They have two grown, married sons and three granddaughters, whom she affectionately calls her “kiddles.”

Graphic about past sins by Hal Nguyen at Pixabay. Graphic of the grieving King David from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithographic Company (1903).