Freedom From Guilt

As believers, we know that Jesus Christ paid for our sins on the cross so that we wouldn't have to face death and eternal separation from God. That knowledge, which was meant to free us from the bondage of sin, doesn't always keep us from feeling guilty for what we have done. Is it because we somehow doubt God's grace which 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us is sufficient? Is it because we think our past mistakes which were dealt with at Calvary will somehow be revisited even though God himself declared that he will remember them no more (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17)?

In my recent devotions, I came upon Hebrews 9:14 which should settle this issue for us once and for all--how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Verses 1 through 10 explain how the animal sacrifices of the old covenant covered sin but didn't cleanse the conscience of the worshipper (v. 9). Under the new covenant, the Son of God was sacrificed once for all to secure eternal redemption (v.12).

Jesus Christ not only secured eternal life for us as the perfect sacrifice, he did something the old covenant couldn't do--he purified our consciences as well. The guilt trip has been cancelled. For good! We are not only free from guilt but also the flawed notion that we have to earn or sustain our salvation through what verse 14 calls dead works; making God's grace truly sufficient for us.

The Good News of the Gospel not only gives us eternal security but freedom as well. Freedom from sin. Freedom from guilt. And that's news worth sharing!