Every one of us has been born into a fallen and broken world full of sin. Every day, as Christians, we do battle with our flesh to overcome our own fleshly desires in efforts to live lives that are pleasing to God. Despite our best efforts, our flesh is weak, and we often find ourselves doing the wrong thing even when we know what is right.
Lots of us struggle with self-condemning hearts when we sin or disobey God. When we know the right thing to do and yet we still do the wrong thing, we often feel as if we have failed ourselves, failed those around us, and most grievously of all, failed God. At times, the pain and self-condemnation that we feel after the failure of sin can be unbearable and lead us into deeper guilt, shame, and despair.
Although the weight of our failures can sometimes be heavier than we ever imagined, there is hope and forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ!
Encouragement From a Friend
I remember a time, years ago, when I was struggling with the pain of my guilt and shame over a sin I had committed. Even though I was a Christian at this time and knew what was right, I had given in to the temptation of my flesh and failed not only myself, but God. I opened up to one of my long-time friends and confessed my sin and the shame I was feeling as a result.
My friend showed no judgment, but only kindness and compassion when I confessed my sin and pointed me to the truth of God’s Word saying, “My friend, that’s why Jesus died.” What my friend told to me that day helped me to move past the shame of my failure, opening my eyes to the truth of the scriptures and forever reshaping the way I viewed my sin and failure.
Jesus Paid the Price!
In one of my most difficult moments, when I was grappling with the shame of my sin, my friend pointed me to the truth of God’s Word. What my friend said that day was true.
The Bible tells us that Jesus paid the price for our sins and that we can be free from all of our guilt and shame by trusting in Jesus.
1 John 1: 7 & 9 says, “…the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin… 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. That’s why Jesus died…He died so that we could be forgiven!
Jesus freely shed His blood on the cross of calvary so that we could find full and complete forgiveness of sins. When we confess our sins to God and ask Him to forgive us, He is faithful and just to forgive us from all of our sins…not just one or two of them, not only the little sins, but ALL of our sins.
Psalm 103 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” and Isaiah 43: 25 says, “…I am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
The Bible tells us that God forgives our if we are faithful to confess our sins before Him and ask His forgiveness. The Bible says that He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west…how far is the east from the west? God’s Word also tells us that he wipes away our trangressions and doesn’t even remember our sins any more!
Finding Hope in the Scriptures:
Here are a few scriptures to remind you of God’s great forgiveness:
- 1 John 2: 2 – “…He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”
Jesus paid the price for our sins. The word “propitiate” literally means to appease or to regain favor; while our sins have separated us from God, the sacrifice of Jesus pays the price for our sins and allows us to regain our closeness to God. Jesus didn’t just pay the price for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world for all time!
- John 3: 16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.“
- Psalm 34: 22 – “The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.”
- Romans 8: 1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Friends, God loved you so much that He sent Jesus to live the life that you could never live and to pay the price that you could never pay so that if you believe in Him you can have eternal life and forgiveness of sin.
Friend, Jesus didn’t come to condemn us, but to forgive us and save us! Our own hearts are self-condemning, but let us find hope in the fact that when we have come to God for His forgiveness and believed on Christ, we are no longer condemned!
Letting Go of Our Past Mistakes and Letting our Hearts Heal
It is easy for God to forgive us for our sins and look past our mistakes, so why is it sometimes so hard for us to let go even after we have been forgiven? Sometimes our hearts condemn us even when God Himself does not.
Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all; He paid the price for all of our sins!
By holding on to our past mistakes long after God has already forgiven us we are holding on to something that God has already let go of, we are not fully trusting in His promise to forgive, and we are making the great sacrifice of Christ be in vain!
Jesus did not die to forgive us of our sins so that we could keep holding on to them in our hearts forever; He died that we might be forgiven and have life and life more abundantly. When we hold onto our sins even after we have been forgiven, we keep our hearts from experienceing the healing power of the cross.
We can be encouraged that once we have confessed our sins before the Lord and asked His forgiveness that He is faithful and just to forgive and He remembers our sins no more. Only by letting go of our past mistakes can we truly find healing for our weary hearts.
A Few Tips to Let Go and Let God:
- Pray and ask God to help you let go of your past.
There is victory in prayer and when we pray, God hears us. Bring your burdens before the Lord and ask Him to help you let go of the mistakes of your past. - Spend time with God.
When we spend time in the Word of God, prayer, and worship, we grow closer to Him and invite His presence into our lives. The closer we draw to God, the more His love envelops our hearts and drives out our self-condemnation. - Fully trust in God’s forgiveness:
The Bible is clear that God’s forgiveness is full and complete. Trust in that promise. Trust that when you come before Him to ask forgiveness, HE WILL FORGIVE YOU.
Remember: God is bigger than your biggest mistake!
God Bless You
Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life and His grace is greater than all our sin!
May you be encouraged by the Word of God today and may we all be able to let go of our sins and let God’s forgiveness wash over us!
Join Me in a Short Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your reminder to me today that Your grace is sufficient for all of my sins.
I thank You that You have paid the price for my sins and I ask that You help me to let go of the mistakes of my past. Help me to trust in Your promise that You have forgiven me and that You, Oh Lord, remember my sin no more.
Lord, I pray that You will help me to grow closer to you each day and help to rid me of my self-condemning heart.
In the most holy and sacred name of Jesus I pray, Amen!
