Guilty Feelings?

 

We all have a million different kinds of feelings.  You may have feelings of depression, fear, shame, doubt, anger, jealousy, hate, or envy.  You may feel inadequate because of debt, your parenting skills, or because of past sins.  The BIG feeling we all have is guilt!  But you are not what you feel!  Jesus doesn’t see what you did in the past, but who you are.  You are not your circumstance or your past sin.  Remember you are not perfect.  We all mess up from time to time, but God always forgives.  God knows who you are, not what you’ve done.

Feelings can be irrational.  They can be childish and can even be a sign of weakness.  Feelings can interfere with getting what you really want.  They are not always reliable.  They can take away your joy and your happiness.  All people even Christians experience all kinds of feelings and emotions both good and bad. 

The Bible tells us that even God and Jesus showed emotions.   Jesus wept in John 11:35 and God and Jesus were angered by what people did on earth.  There is a list of positive emotions in Galatians 5:22-23 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The emotional life of a Christian should be shaped in response to God’s character.  We should feel peace, joy, love, and hope from knowing God’s mercy, grace, love, and faithfulness.  We know that God is slow to anger.  We know He loves us and gives us grace and mercy, which makes us not want to continue in sin.

The Bible tells us how to change those bad feeling into good ones by telling us to transform our minds.  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2.

The devil likes to separate you from your spirit.  He tells you over and over you are what you’ve done.  He likes to accuse.  He is a liar, a deceiver, a thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy.  He wants you to relive your past sins, but Jesus already paid for those sins on the cross.  You are not your sin so don’t buy into that lie.  Don’t continue punishing yourself for what Jesus already paid for.

Principle:  Satan wants us to feel guilty for forgiven sins.

Jesus forgives our sins and they are gone! 

They are out of sight – “You have put all my sins behind your back.” - Isaiah 38:17b.

They are out of mind – “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” – Jeremiah 31:34b.

They are out of reach – “You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” – Micah 7:19.

They are out of existence – “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” – Isaiah 43:25.

If you believe and follow Jesus, you are saved through grace.  You can’t receive His gift of grace if you are still looking at your past.  You don’t have to live that way.  Don’t let the devil rob you of what God has given you.  Ask God to take away any guilt and doubt and strengthen your faith.

Principle:  God remembers our sins no more.

Join me here next time -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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What is the Gospel?

 

Gospel literally means “good news” and it concerns the good news of Christ and the way to salvation.  You can find the answer in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”  His resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith.  If He didn’t rise, His death rest has no meaning.  But He did come out of the grave and is risen.  So we can rejoice in that fact.  “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” – 1 Corinthians 15:17-18.

There is historical evidence of the Jesus’ empty tomb and eye witnesses.  The fact that Jesus was buried verified His death and the fact that He appeared to others verified His resurrection.  He offers salvation which comes through Him and His work on the cross.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 – Jesus is the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (died).  Death will come to us all and it started with one man, Adam who brought sin into the world.  Resurrection comes through one man, Jesus who brought life into the world.  Everyone will die sooner or later.  That’s part of life.  If you have been born again, you will die twice.  If you have been born twice, you will die only once.

There are three resurrections:

1.      The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

2.     The Resurrection of the saved.  That is when Jesus comes to get the believers.  All the dead believers will rise and along with them the living believers, who will skip death, will meet Jesus in the air to be with Him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17).  We call this the rapture but should not be confused with Jesus’ Second Coming.  Believers will get perfect resurrected bodies.  The church age will end and a seven year Tribulation period will begin.  During this time there will be the greatest revival that the world has ever seen.  There will be two witnesses (some believe this is Moses and Elijah) and 144,000 Jews who will be evangelists.  They will be witnesses to the unsaved and many people will be saved.

3.     The Resurrection of the unbelievers.  After the Tribulation ends we will see Jesus’ Second Coming.  Then all unbelievers will be raised from the dead and will be judged along with all living unbelievers.  This judgment is called The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11).  If you are unsaved or if you die without Jesus as your Savior, it’s all over.  You get no do-overs.  Lastly death will be destroyed and Jesus will rule.

In heaven there is no more dying.  Death is not the end.  We don’t have a dead Savior.  We have a living Savior.  Have you put your trust in Him?  If you haven’t, why not?  When death comes to you, your eternal destination will be sealed.  It will either be in eternal hell or eternal heaven.  Trust in Him will take away all the guilt and the shame of your past.  He will give you peace and reassurance of His love and salvation.

To be sure you are going to heaven to be the Jesus, you must admit your area sinner, confess your sins, repent of your sins, and believe in the Gospel.  But remember you will not live a perfect sinful life, because you are not perfect.  Only Jesus is perfect.  You will sin daily, but sin will not be the controller your life.  God will be with you to forgive.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 18:3.  “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” - John 14:6. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” - John 3:3.  “… unless you repent, you too will all perish”. - Luke 13:5

Once you believe and put your faith and trust in Him, God will not condemn you.  “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” - Romans 8:1.  “Through Him everyone who believes is justified … - Acts 13:39.  Through His love and grace you are saved.  He will protect and provide for you.  You are His and a part of His family.  He is saving a place for you in heaven.

Summary

What is the gospel?  It’s the message of the good news of salvation offered through Christ’s finished work on the cross.  It’s a message for eternal life.  It’s the total plan of God to redeem people from sin, death, and Satan.  It’s comes to you not only in words, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction and much assurance (1 Thess. 1:5).

Resources:

The Holy Bible – NIV

https://davidjeremiah.blog

https://bible.org

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to see you here next time.  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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