Living under the great heaviness of guilt over past sins or even current sins is a great stumbling block in the life of the believer. A couple of years ago, I was really struggling with guilt.
I began asking the Lord “How do I balance recognizing sin in my life without being overtaken by discouraging levels of guilt?” And of course, God faithfully answers prayer and began helping me see that there is a clear distinction between guilt and conviction.
✨Guilt-liability (you are responsible) or culpability (you are guilty) to punishment for wrongdoing.
✨Conviction- to expose, convict, reprove the way the Spirit of God tugs at the heart of someone and urges confession, repentance and rightful redirection.
Both of these deal with wrongdoing, but the result of each are vastly different. Guilt serves only as a heavy burden and has no grace associated with it. Guilt does not teach us or bring about change in our lives. Conviction, however, still deals with sin, but it leads us and teaches to live a life of righteousness that God desires. Conviction is redemptive! It allows us to move forward and covers us in grace.
John 3:17-18 tells us, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world (usher out guilt), but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is NOT condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
So what’s the key to living free from the heavy burden of guilt? It’s Jesus! Only Jesus can set us free!
If you are heavily burned by guilt today, I encourage you to learn about who Jesus is and what He has done to set you free!
If you are a believer struggling with guilt, I encourage you to seek God’s truth about what He has done for you through His Son Jesus! Bind these truths around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart! Live free in Him today!
Highlighting the hope that we have in Christ! 