My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." -- 1 John 2:1-2
I am writing to brothers (and some sisters) who have struggled with guilt for sins that they have committed in the past. Many of us have confessed our sin (1 John 1:9), the sins that Christ died for and paid for with His blood, and yet he hold on to the guilt. I have met people who are still holding on to sin that they committed 5, 10, 25 years ago.
I shared with you that I just read a powerful book by Dr. Jerry Bridges (The Bookends of the Christian Life ... Crossway Publishers). In this book he shares from the writings of a 17th century Puritan, Thomas Wilcox about how to deal with persistent guilt:
* Shift your focus away from your sin and onto Christ: don't persist in looking upon sin; look upon Christ instead, and don't look away from him for a moment. When we see OUR guilt, if we don't see CHRIST in the scene, away with it! In all our storms of conscience, we must look at CHRIST continually and exclusively.
* Shift your focus to Christ, our mediator. If we're so discouraged we cannot pray, then we must see CHRIST praying for us (Romans 8:34), using His influence with the Father on our behalf. What better news could we ever want than to know JESUS CHRIST -- the Son of God, co-creator of the universe -- is addressing the Father on our behalf?
* Shift your focus to Christ crucified, risen, and ascended. When guilt persists, remember where JESUS is and he's been. He has been upon the cross, where he spoiled all that can ruin us. He's now upon the throne of heaven, as our advocate and mediator. His state in glory doesn't make him neglectful or scornful of the guilty sinners he died to redeem. He has the same heart now in heaven as he had upon the cross.
I will share more tomorrow on this topic. Remember the words to Horatio Spafford's hymn, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL?
My sin, Oh the bless of glorious soul,
MY SIN -- NOT IN PART BUT THE WHOLE--
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it NO MORE!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.
Are you weighed down from guilt of past sins? Get down on your knees, and go to the cross. Preach the Gospel to yourself, and thank Him that HE TOOK YOUR SIN and YOU BEAR IT NO MORE! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 7: 1 Samuel 7-9; Luke 9:18-36
Great Quote: Do little things as though they were great, because of the majesty of Jesus Christ who does them in us, and who lives our life: and do the greatest things as though they were little and easy, because of His omnipotence. Blaise Pascal
Check out this week's STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT from George. It will encourage your heart: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/
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