Two kinds of guilt:
1) True Guilt – A good thing! Not a good thing when someone never experiences guilt!
Psalm 51:4 – 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
David has a straight edge… it’s God who sets the standard, and its God who determines sin and is 1st offended by our sin. To distinguish true and phantom guilt, we need to go to God’s Word… get good counsel… study, seek advice of scholars…etc…
We can’t resist all guilt! Some of it is right! Don’t you wish Hitler felt guilt…?
* WWII – US slow to believe reports about the slaughter of Jews… Not Germany! A Christian nation… maybe a less sophisticated people… After the war, US soldiers were horrified at what they found… in one city the US general forced the people of that town to clean up the mess… The Mayor and his wife committed suicide the next day! They knew that stuff was taking place, but they didn’t want to believe it could happen.
How do you deal with True Guilt…?
Admit it…
Confess it…
Claim it…
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 32:5 - 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
“Confess” means to say the same thing. To see your sin from the perspective of the one you have offended. You have to stand in their shoes!
“If I have offended you, I’m sorry”… that’s not confession!!! That’s doing what you have to do so you don’t look bad!
Psalm 32: 1 - Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
“Blessed” – complete wellness of being; profound joy… You must assert God’s truth over your feelings of guilt!
