As believers, we often deal with two feelings associated with past sins: guilt and regret. Initially, guilt is a valid and honest response to the acknowledgement of sin. In fact, the process of repentance begins with that acknowledgement. On the other hand, regret is the sorrow that comes with the consequences of sin. Are you suffering from feelings of guilt and regret from your past? Have these feelings consumed you to the point of disabling your service to God and others? If so, there is good news! Regardless of the gravity of past sin, God promises to remove the guilt of all who seek His forgiveness. As believers, we have the gospel message and the assurance of God’s grace and forgiveness. The gospel frees us from our past and moves us forward without guilt, shame or regret. John Newton, the author of that wonderful, timeless hymn Amazing Grace, also struggled with guilt. He was once a slave trader and could not forget the horrible nature of his sin. At the end of His life, Newton said, “My memory is nearly gone but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” The apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, described himself in his earlier days as “a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent of Christ (I Timothy 1:13) but he also said, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (I Timothy 1:15).
All are sinners and all have struggled with guilt and regret from the past. We sometimes wonder, has “that sin” been forgiven or is my current circumstance punishment for past actions? The gospel is the answer. The Bible teaches that God forgave all our sins; He cancelled the record of charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). But, He didn’t stop there. God credited to us the perfect righteousness of Christ. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now, when God sees us, He sees Christ. No longer do we need to carry feelings of guilt, shame or regret. We’ve been set free by the gospel and God no longer holds our sin against us. The penalty for all our past, present and future sin was laid upon Christ “…the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6b). Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin (Romans 4:7-8). Wonderful news!
Your workplace challenge is to be continually reminded of the gospel and His great love for us. Micah 7:19b says that God has cast all our sin into the depths of the sea. I like to add “He puts up a no fishing sign” (my words). So, the next time the enemy brings up your past be sure to remind him of his future. We serve a great Savior so make today count for His Glory.