Guilt and Grace

   Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus."

   There is a very definite need for us to understand the role of guilt
and conscience in the Christian life. For the believer, guilt feelings
are not only destructive but they are opposed to a Scriptural view of
motivation and actually reflect our own independent efforts to solve
the problem of sin in our lives. These feelings can hinder spiritual
growth unless they are handled properly.

   Misunderstandings about guilt can be seen in two main areas:

   1. Constant guilt feelings destroy our assurance of forgiveness. In
spite of our intellectual knowledge of confession and forgiveness (1
John 1:9) in the Christian life, many Christians are experiencing no
more freedom from a guilt-ridden conscience than are unbelievers.

   2. Guilt feelings, instead of promoting spiritual growth, can cause
legalistic and Pharisaical tendencies. Some visible signs of people who
are guilt ridden:

   1. The Christian who is constantly spiritually depressed and
defeated.

   2. The Christian who constantly goes to the altar during an
invitation to "rededicate" himself/herself.

   3. The Christian who is very legalistic and who rigidly orders his
or her life and expects others to do the same.

   4. The rebellious teen-ager who comes from a highly religious home.

   (These are simply some possible signs of a guilt-ridden conscience
and are not to be understood as indicators every time one of these
symptoms occur.)

   Definition of guilt - A complex reaction we experience when we
realize that we are not who we think we are or not acting as we should
act. The reaction may involve self-punishment, self- rejection, and a
sense of shame or inferiority.

   Example - Judas is a perfect example of a person who because of
guilt goes to extreme ends in self-punishment. After betraying Jesus,
he tried to get rid of the guilt by returning the 30 pieces of silver.
When that failed, he threw the money into the temple sanctuary and went
off and hanged himself.

   Remember, Judas could have sought Christ and asked for forgiveness!

   Question - If believers are not supposed to feel guilty, what are
they supposed to feel?

   Answer - They are to have a godly sorrow or a constructive sorrow.
READ 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.

   The main difference between guilt and godly sorrow is this: behind
guilt feelings lies FEAR; behind godly sorrow lies LOVE. With guilt,
one is motivated by fear or else overtaken by fear. With godly sorrow,
one is motivated by love to change his or her actions.

   Some ways that guilt is hidden or disguised:

   1. Projection - when we repress our own feelings of guilt, sins, or
unacceptable wishes and feelings, and attribute them to others.

   Biblical example - David when confronted by Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1-7)

   Modern example - a man who has a problem with physical lust. He
cannot deal with his own feelings. So, he projects that guilt upon his
wife. Thus, he forbids her to wear a bathing suit or go to the beach
and says that other men will be looking at her and she will be tempting
them.

   2. Repression - when we have a dirty or uncomfortable thought or
bring up a bad memory, we push it to the back of our minds and make
every effort not to think about it or deal with it.

   3. Reaction formation - when we assume a conscious attitude or
action which is directly opposed to the inner wish or the repressed
thought.

   Biblical example - The religious rigidity of the Pharisees (Matthew
23:25-26).

   Since a guilt-ridden person cannot deal properly with his inner
self, he begins to focus on external actions, works, and effort. Thus,
when others look upon the outward person they see this fine picture of
religious devotion. But they do not see that on the inside there is a
sea of turmoil. The guilty person fears what others will think if they
really knew the struggle that was going on inside.

   4. Compulsive activity - when a person feels guilty for not having
achieved or done as best he could, he throws himself into his work to
alleviate the fear and anxiety within. This has more recently been
referred to as the "workaholic."

   5. Obsessive thinking - can best be explained by example. This is
the person who feels guilty about say, having a bad memory. So when he
goes to bed he torments himself by thinking, "Did I set the alarm?",
"Did I lock the door?" and keeps thinking these things until he gets up
to see for himself.

   NOTE - Some of these disguises are normal to all of us. Every time
we make a decision some measure of anxiety comes over us. If we have
forgotten to do something we remind ourselves a few times. Some of
these defenses can in a sense be healthy for us. Some doubting is
perfectly normal. But, when these doubts consume us then we have a
problem.

   In Christian circles, the disguise of obsessive thinking is very
common in those who have a problem having assurance that past sins are
forgiven. They are constantly wondering if God hates them, or if they
have committed the unpardonable sin, or if they are really going to
make it to heaven. They are plagued with thoughts like, "If was really
a Christian I wouldn't have these dirty thoughts," or "Maybe I really
didn't mean it when I said I was sorry and I repented."

   These disguises that we use to avoid guilt feelings distort reality
and keep us from seeing ourselves realistically.

   Repressed thoughts go unresloved. Projected feelings build barriers
between ourselves and others. Compulsive activity puts stress and
strain upon us emotionally, physically, and spiritually and detracts
from our family life. Obsessive thoughts cause unnecessary depression
and worry.

   One man has said (Bruce Narramore) that psychologically these
disguises lead to neurosis and spiritually they cause legalism and
Pharisaism.

   In closing, I want us to remember the words of Romans 8:1.

   Keep this in mind also - Do you remember when Jesus confronted the
Pharisees about the cup washing in Matthew 23 how he outright condemned
them? Yet, do you recall the instance when he was with the woman that
had been in adultery (John 8).

   Jesus openly forgave her and exhorted her to sin no more.

   If we hide our guilt, the Word and the Spirit will convict us of it
harshly. But, if we acknowledge our guilt and have a godly sorrow
motivated to change by love for Christ, he forgives us. Our Lord never
had a harsh word for an admitted sinner. But to those who sought to
hide their guilt he spoke harshly and forcefully.

   We are going to continue this study, but for now I want you to
remember a few final short thoughts:

   1. We are fallen creatures. Settle in your mind now that perfection
will never be reached in this life.

   2. You are not the only Christian who has ever had unclean thoughts
or impure wishes.

   3. If you have these inner constant guilt feelings you may simply
need to unload them to a brother or sister in Christ who cares for you.

   4. If you are struggling with guilt, do not attempt to resolve the
problem by blaming others or by burying yourself in activity. Do not
lay down extra-biblical rules for others to follow simply because you
are having a problem in a particular area.

   5. Look to the Scriptures, particularly the book of 1 John. Open up
to the Spirit and allow him to minister assurance to your soul.

   6. Remember that when Christ died on the cross, he died for all of
your sins, even the ones you have not yet committed.

   GUILT Part 2

   Adam and Eve were created in the image of God and lived in perfect
harmony with him and with themselves in the Garden of Eden. Although
they were naked, they were not ashamed.

   Inwardly, they were happy and at peace with themselves. They knew
their indentity in relation to their Creator. There was no burden to
prove their worth or to live up to anyone's expectations. They
possessed emotional harmony.

   When the serpent came and tempted them, he implied that they were
naive, blind, and inferior. If they would only eat from the forbidden
tree, they would have knowledge of good and evil. This knowledge was
not simply an intellectual knowledge of moral values, but rather an
experiential knowledge.

   Unfortunately, an experiential knowledge of evil does not make us
like God rather, it alienates us from him.

   Adam and Eve's sin placed them into an immediate state of guilt and
shame. They were guilty of sinning against God. The guilty feeling
which they experienced led to shame.

   Now notice, there was not yet any threat of wrath from God. Their
own consciences condemned them. The initial threat to them was not a
word from God because God had not yet sought them out. The initial
threat was their own emotions telling them that something was wrong.
The mental guilt and anxiety they now experienced was a natural
reaction of fallen man to the awareness of his sinful condition. Their
guilt was not a positive force, that is, it did not lead the to
repentance or contrition. Instead, their guilt motivated them to make
their own coverings of fig leaves and to hide from God! Their guilt and
anxiety caused them to be afraid of each other. There was no longer a
feeling of harmony when they looked upon each other.

   When God came to them and questioned them, they immediately
projected their guilt onto someone else. Eve said that it was the
serpent's fault, and Adam sais that it was Eve's fault. In hiding from
each other and God, they initiated the process of psychological
defense. They began denying their guilt and their helpless condition.

   Now to make a point. The guilt and anxiety experience of Adam and
Eve was not the result of their environment. It was the result of their
own sinfulness. Guilt feelings are always experienced when we sense
some type of inconsistency or duality within ourselves. Adam and Eve
suddenly realized that they were no longer what they were created to
be. They realized that they had not obtained what they thought they
would. They found that the serpent had deceived them.

   Guilt occured immediately after the fall. Since Adam was our
representative (theologically called "federal headship"), we are now
all born with guilt and anxiety feelings. These feelings are not simply
the result of the environment we have grown up in.

   Difference between GUILT and ANXIETY:

   GUILT always has reference to something in the PAST while ANXIETY
has reference to something in the FUTURE.

   It is impossible to experience guilt about something we have not yet
done. We may experience guilt over our wishes about something in the
future, but the guilt is about our wishes, not about what has not yet
happened. Anxiety comes when we think about the potential consequences
of a past act.

   Infants also feel guilt and anxiety although perhaps not as intense
or as understood as that which adults feel. When a child reaches the
stage of development where he becomes conscious of the mental
faculties, he immediately has an awareness of right and wrong. The
Bible teaches the doctrine of original sin, that is, all men are born
sinners by nature. Therefore, even before we can make conscious moral
choices we are responsible for our actions.

   Let us talk about an infant for a moment. There are times when an
infant needs to be fed because it is truly hungry. If its feeding
schedule is not met, the baby may cry as a means of expressing its need
to be fed. However, many times, an infant will cry to be fed simply
because of a selfish desire to have wishes (not needs) met.

   As we mature, our ability to make conscious decisions increases and
our conscious responsibility grows.

   Question -- Are guilt feelings from God?

   Narramore - "Undoubtedly guilt has been a major means of motivation
in the church. Endeavoring to stir people to godly living, church
leaders have frequently aroused feelings of disesteem and
self-condemnation. This has been especially true of the preaching
ministry of the church and of devotional literature where there has
been a major failure to distinguish between... guilt feelings and
constructive sorrow."

   Narramore poses this question to Christian pastors, theologians, and
counselors - "How can we lead people to freely acknowledge their sins
without getting under a heavy burden of neurotic guilt?" He then goes
on to say, "Without a successful resolution to these apparent conflicts
we are in danger of communicating an oppressive rather than a
liberating brand of Christianity..."

   In the New Testament, guilt is never used as a motivating emotion.
When used, it is in a legal or judicial sense, describing our condition
as fallen people alienated from God because of our sins. The New
Testament speaks of objective guilt (that is you are guilty because you
have broken this law or principle) but never subjective guilt, or doing
things because of a guilty feeling.

   Guilt motivation first of all damages self-esteem and a sense of
self-worth. I do not mean in the humanistic sense that we hear so much
about today, but as such:

   1. We are created in God's image

   2. We are given dominion over the earth

   3. We are made a lower than the angels and crowned with glory and
honor

   4. We are purchased out of sin by Christ's precious blood

   5. We are indwelled by the Holy Spirit

   6. We have eternity prepared for us

   Guilt motivation leads to self-condemnation and punishment. Christ's
death on behalf of his followers has removed any threat of impending
wrath and doom for us who believe in Christ. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has
written on Romans 8:1, "The Christian is a man who can never be
condemned....Because this is true of him the Christian should never
feel condemned."

   The Scriptures do teach that God corrects and disciplines his
children. But this should not be confused with wrath and punishment for
them. Punishment is reserved for the unbeliever in order to satisfy
divine justice. Correction and discipline are reserved for believers in
order to mature and form them into Christ's image. Punishment focuses
upon the past whereas correction focuses upon the future.

   READ 1 John 4:17-18

   Guilt motivation leads us to doing works in order to gain or
maintain acceptance with God. Believers are accepted and remain
accepted by God not because of their works but because of the merits
and righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:24-25).

   Christians should respond to their sins with a deep repentance, but
guilt feelings in the believer's life should not be seen as the Holy
Spirit's "tool." To accept guilt feelings as such is to reverse oneself
to being under the Law.

   Negative reactions to guilt feelings:

   1. Hopelessness - Like Judas who, instead of repenting, felt no hope
and went and hanged himself.

   2. Hide by rationalization - Using defense mechanisms to blame
someone else (like Adam and Eve).

   3. Rebellion - Since the feelings are there you simply rebel against
the thing that caused the feeling. You turn away from Christ and the
fellowship of the church.

   4. Confession and alteration - Confess the sins and then try to
change your ways by your own efforts. What happens is that there ends
up being an outward change in the person, but the inner conflict and
turmoil still remain.

   Conclusion:

   1. Objective guilt because of breaking God's laws is quite natural
for the unbeliever. He is guilty, therefore he feels guilty.

   2. Guilt feelings ALONE never motivate us to repentance.

   3. Guilt is not the proper motivation for Christian service and
behavior.

   4. Continued guilt feelings only serve to hinder a believer's
spiritual growth and maturity.

   5. Guilt feelings in a believer will only produce negative reactions.

   GUILT - PART 3

   "The Alternative to Guilt"

   In our study of guilt, we must keep in mind that there are two types
of guilt.

   1. Objective guilt - This is a state or condition. If a person
breaks a law that person stands guilty. The broken law can be a civil
law or a divine law. There may or may not be guilt feelings experienced
in objective guilt.

   2. Subjective guilt - This is an emotional state that one
experiences internally. They may be the result of being guilty in the
objective sense, or they may be false feelings based on any number of
factors.

   Example: A person runs a stop sign. That person is objectively
guilty even though he or she may not feel guilty.

   Example: A person goes swimming on Sunday. Has any civil or divine
law been broken? No. However, because of pressure from others, the
person may feel guilty. This is a false guilt. It is not objective
guilt, based upon the breaking of a civil law or God's moral law, but
rather a psychological guilt, an emotional feeling.

   Subjective guilt defined - (Narramore) Psychological guilt is the
inner subjective experience of condemnation. Comprised of
self-inflicted mental punishment, rejection and disesteem,
psychological guilt is neither portrayed in Scripture as a positive
motivation nor attributed to divine conviction. Even when guilt
feelings motivate altered behavior, they tend to cause repression,
depression, rebellion, or other personality dysfunctions. In this way,
guilt feelings function like the law. They can promote guilt-based
conformity or drive us to despair, but they have no power of positive
motivation! Guilt feelings affect us the same way they did Adam and
Eve. Their guilt showed them something was wrong but it did absolutely
nothing to motivate them to repent. It only caused them to hide.

   The unbeliever who is unrepentant, is objectively guilty before God.
He has transgressed the laws of God and has set himself up to be the
master of his soul. Such a person may or may not feel guilty but that
is not the issue.

   However, the believer, the one who has repented of sins and come to
Christ for salvation and mercy, is no longer forever objectively
guilty, that is, he or she is no longer under the condemning wrath of
God. If the believer is not to feel guilty any longer, what is he or
she supposed to feel when they sin?

   The answer is this - When a believer finds that he or she has broken
a law of God, he or she is to feel GODLY or CONSTRUCTIVE SORROW.

   READ 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

   Constructive or godly sorrow is a love motivated emotion that is the
Biblical alternative to psychological guilt. Whereas psychological
guilt is essentially a self-punitive process designed to atone for
one's sins, constructive sorrow is a love-motivated desire to change
rooted in concern for the offended party and one's relationship to God.

   Because of an improper understanding of guilt feelings and godly
sorrow, this is what usually happens to a believer:

   1. He sins

   2. He feels guilty

   3. To ease the guilty feeling he confesses his sin

   4. There is a temporary relief

   5. The feeling of relief goes away and despair sets in

   6. A lack of assurance takes over

   7. The guilt feeling returns

   8. There is confession again and the cycle continues

   Narramore -"This process has become almost institutionalized in some
churches .... 1 John 1:9 has come to be used as a kind of psychological
spot remover for emotional guilt. Any time we feel guilty we confess
our sins and receive assurance that we are forgiven. But we fail to
change because we didn't experience constructive sorrow."

   A person who experiences constructive sorrow will see these things:

   1. Christ has paid the penalty for all sins, past, present, and
future.

   2. What needs to be focused on is not so much specific sins,
although they must be dealt with, but rather a nature which is prone to
sin and to alienate itself from God.

   3. Therefore, what is needed is not mere confession, but a Spirit
given desire to change one's behavior, and a desire to show one's love
to God by being obedient to him.

   4. Also, there must be a continual awareness of Christ's presence in
the life of the believer.

   When subjective guilt feelings are experienced we take the
initiative to atone for our sins. When constructive sorrow is
experienced we realize that God has taken the initiative.

   What is the role of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit's role is to
convict us of sin. To convict means to reveal, to bring to light, or to
expose.

   In unbelievers, the Spirit brings sin to light and shows the person
that he or she is under judgement and condemnation; that he or she must
face the wrath of God unless they repent and come to Christ (John
16:7-17).

   In believers, the Spirit reveals truth to us, and gives us the
desire and ability to live by that truth. He does not condemn us or
make us feel that we are under the wrath of God (Romans 8:1). He
assures us that we are no longer under the law and its accompanying
condemnation, but that we are now free in

   Christ. He motivates us to holiness and godliness. He makes our sins
known to us, but gives a witness that Christ has paid for them. Then,
he motivates us to respond in love to what God has done for us in
Christ. He then enables us to change and to obey the Word of God.

   Constructive or godly sorrow does not mean that we must no longer
take sin seriously. It does mean that we are no longer to feel
condemned by our sins. Some Christians feel insecure unless they feel
guilty and condemned. They fear that unless they feel this way, they
will somehow take a license to sin. Some folks base their assurance of
salvation solely upon whether or not they are always feeling like a
worm! One person once told his counselor, "Without guilt, what would I
do? I would feel completely at sea!"

   When we see the depths of our sins, and realize just whom we have
offended, we will be motivated by godly sorrow to repent and change our
behavior. We will want to live differently, not in order to make us
feel better, but because we want to show our love and gratitude to God
for what he has done.

   Before we conclude, let me talk about our awareness of guilt. It is
proper for us to realize that we have broken one of God's laws or
Christ's principles. We must be aware of being objectively guilty,
otherwise we would never know our failures and shortcomings before God.
But, an awareness of objective guilt is vastly different from feeling a
false psychological guilt. An awareness of being guilty is what leads
us to experience godly sorrow. What is wrong, is when we become aware
of being guilty and then, instead of repenting and being obedient to
God, we beat and punish ourselves and develop an inferiority complex
which says we are nothing but a low-life worm.

   There is a definite alternative to psychological guilt feelings.
This alternative is to have a godly or constructive sorrow after
becoming aware of being objectively guilty. May the Lord give us the
grace and ability to change our way of thinking.

../