When You Feel Guilty

"So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."

Romans 14:12

An accused criminal counseled with his attorney. He was advised to plea bargain in court. By doing so, his lawyer was confident that he would get a reduced sentence. He followed through with a confession of guilt, and the judge reduced his sentence to fewer years in prison. He later told his story to a minister who visited him in prison. The minister said, "God, our judge, has an even better offer for you. If you plead guilty before Him in prayer through Christ, He will give you more than a reduced sentence. He will forgive you, and remember your sins no more. You can settle your account with God at the cross of Jesus." The prisoner did just that, as he prayed with the minister.

Our account with God is clear when we are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). What does it mean to be justified freely? We are justified in Christ, which means Christ paid the full price for our sins at the cross. It is done by God's grace freely, which means that we cannot earn, nor work, for our justification. It is free grace in Christ! God's unmerited favor is offered freely in Christ alone.

Do you ever feel guilt about sins of the past? As a believer in Jesus Christ, there is good news. Your account is settled with God at the cross of Jesus. "Your sins, not in part but the whole, are nailed to His cross." Receive the fullness of God's grace in Christ.

Someone has said about our sins, "As sinners, we have a debt that we cannot pay, and Jesus paid our debt that He did not owe." Yet, a better way to say it: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). By faith in Jesus Christ, your account to God is settled.

God, forgive our sins and deliver us from guilt through Jesus Christ.