Balancing Guilt and Conviction

[peterunz]

Hi everyone, I hope I'm posting this in the right forum...

How do you all balance being convicted of your sin, recognizing it, and being sorry for it, with not feeling overly guilty for your sin.

For example if I tell a lie, I should recognize my sin and realize how that separates me from God (as all sins do) and want to change, but not feel overwhelming guilt either.

I have struggled with how to balance these two ideas in the past, so any thoughts you might have would be much appreciated!

Thanks

 

[trucker]

Guilt brings on fear of anger, wrath and punishment from God. Conviction brings on repentance and knowing that there is no condemnation from God if you are born again. When we blow it as Christians we do not have to fear punishment or wrath from God since he laid his wrath on Jesus for our sins, past, present and future. God is not imputing our sins against us now. II corth 5: 17-21.

We still must stay away from sin and realize that it causes havoc in our lives, but we do not have to fear God or his rejection of us when we blow it.

Guilt is from the kingdom of darkness which makes us run from God. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit which makes you turn to God to get out from being under our mistakes and sins and seek his cleansing.

 

[Boanerges]

Amen.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Conviction is to be embraced, it is a sure sign that God is working in your life.
Forgiveness is to be accepted as complete and final; God chooses not to remember that which He forgives.
Guilt is to be cast down along with every other thought that exalts itself as His truth.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These verse are completely true and there is really only one thing that can separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord and that is our own self.
That is of course one of the main tactics of the enemy of your soul; if he cannot keep you in the bondage of sin he will try to make you feel unclean. What God has called clean let no man call unclean.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So then we do not have to put faith in ourselves but we should certainly believe Him when He says we are forgiven.

 

[Boanerges]

1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

 

[HisFollower]

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 3:19-21
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
Romans 1:16

 

[HoneyBare]

Wow! Those were all really great replies. I can understand where you are coming from. I used to feel that shame too, until I learned that it was simply satan trying to confuse me again. I have decided that, with God's help, I will no longer fall into that trap. I talk back to satan, actually, sometimes and tell him to go to Hell. Woops, is that wrong? I tell Him that Christ has forgiven me and I won't be listening to him (satan) again. For some reason, it helps me. But, perhaps it is wrong to talk back to him ??

 

[Boanerges]

You are doing fine sis. The lies of the enemy are always put to rest by the truth of God's Word.

 

[shipwrecksoul]

Resolving Spiritual Conflicts

If your under condemnation its the devil who's trying to muscle in on your faith in Jesus having died for your sin. If its conviction for you to turn from sin to holy living its God trying to grow you up as his child. If its not knowing the balance of blame appropriately its us, or you in this case. Decide from now on these truths as listed in the above comments from others and your on your way to maturity. Nothing because of Gods justice being met at the cross on his son Jesus for you can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. You called on him for salvation from your sins as Lord of your life. So its is FINISHED. The devil does not want you to know this. As the book of Pilgrims Progress puts it "Many are stuck in the mud of despondency"(I think thats the way it was written)

What the difference between Condemnation and Conviction?

 

[Hekuran]

something practical

Try learning this by heart and recite it out loud. It's a prayer that has been used by countless people for hundreds of years in just the same position as you.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

 

[Carico]

Hi everyone, I hope I'm posting this in the right forum...

How do you all balance being convicted of your sin, recognizing it, and being sorry for it, with not feeling overly guilty for your sin.

For example if I tell a lie, I should recognize my sin and realize how that separates me from God (as all sins do) and want to change, but not feel overwhelming guilt either.

I have struggled with how to balance these two ideas in the past, so any thoughts you might have would be much appreciated!

Thanks

There's a difference between guilt and regret. :wink: Once we confess our sins we can have incredible thankfulness that Jesus already paid for them so they are gone. Nevertheless, regret can crop up occasionally as did Paul's regret when he said; "Of all the sinners, I am the worst." So once the guilt is gone, all that remains is the truth. No self-hate or condemnation, just the truth and love and thankfulness. So I look at my past life with disgust. But it feels like I'm talking about another person since today my slate is wiped clean.