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The truth will set you free

Beatrice Klassen

A young Christian woman who had aborted her baby several years before, was confiding to her friend. Through her tears, she recounted the reasons, the procedure and the horrible aftermath of the choice she had made. “I feel so guilty – so dirty! I confessed to God. My pastor says God has forgiven me, but I’ll never forgive myself for the horrible thing I’ve done!”

That is the cry of many as they struggle with past sins. Perhaps it is not some specific horrible deed that we have difficulty putting behind us; it may be how we see our lives in general that has us bound to feelings of guilt. We’ve all done things we regret. Memories and accusations flood the mind, and we go through mental gymnastics repeating all the “if onlys.” We know the Bible says we are forgiven. We may even quote I John 1:9 and other passages, of Scripture to confirm what we have been taught. But somehow it just doesn’t seem to fit with what we are experiencing.

It is amazing how often negative feelings control our lives. Worry, fear, depression and guilt make it difficult to live victoriously and experience the joy of the Lord, At such times, it is often helpful to analyze what is occurring. We need to look at our feelings, identify why we feel that way, and then ask: “Is this feeling based on fact?”

Have you ever felt unloved? Have you ever felt worthless or that God didn’t hear your prayers? Have you ever felt that life is not worth living? Those are some of the common feelings that people have – but are they based on truth? Usually not. For instance, you may not feel loved, but, according to John 3:16, the fact is that God loves you. You may not feel like a Christian, but the fact is that if you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, John 1:12 says that you are indeed His child. You may not feel forgiven, but Scripture tells you that you are forgiven, so that is a fact (Acts 10:43). Knowing the facts and reminding ourselves of what is truth may not change the feelings immediately, but the appropriate truth can serve as a lifeline to which we can cling until the waves of negative emotion have ebbed. As well, the emotional tidal wave will pass more quickly when the mind is filled with Gods truth: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free... If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:32,36).

Satan loves to plant ungodly thoughts in our minds. It is our choice whether or not to let those thoughts remain, although, in a weakened emotional state, that can be very difficult. We know that untruth is not of God – God cannot lie. Nor will He prompt us to think things that are contrary to His word. On the other hand, Jesus said of Satan, “There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Ultimately, therefore, thoughts based on untruth originate from the devil. This is especially true of overwhelming feelings of guilt after the sin has been confessed.

What is Satan’s purpose? Why does he care what I think? In the matter of feeling unforgiven, I think his purpose is clear. Satan wants to negate Christ’s death on the cross and His victory over sin.

John wrote in Revelation 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ’Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’ " Satan is the “accuser.” If he can keep us from accepting or experiencing God’s forgiveness, he can keep us defeated and ineffective in our Christian walk. One of his favourite tactics is to bring up past sins and failures, reminding us that we are completely unworthy to be forgiven or to be used by God in any significant way. Those feelings of guilt, when sin has already been confessed, mock God. It is like saying, “Jesus’ blood was not enough to erase the guilt of my sin – I must carry it myself. I will continue to pay for my own sin through these feelings of guilt.”

It is true that we could not pay. That was the whole point of Christ coming to die. Not one of us is worthy of God’s grace. That’s why it’s called “grace” – something good we do not deserve.

Moreover, Jesus’ sacrifice is complete. He died for the sins of the whole world. That means yours. The promise He made was to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). One person put it this way: “Micah 7:19 says God casts our sins into the depths of the sea. Then He puts up a sign, ’No fishing’.”

How we long for the day when the “accuser” will be completely hurled down. In the meantime, realizing that Jesus has already won the victory, there are steps we can take to help us “feel” forgiven and to help us forgive ourselves.

Remind yourself of the truth. Quote Romans 8:33,34 to the adversary: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Whenever possible, face others and ask their forgiveness (Matthew 5:23,24). Their expression of forgiveness can help you not only to experience their forgiveness, but also to feel God’s. (Yet please understand that God’s forgiveness does not depend on others forgiving you. They may choose not to forgive, but God always will.) Be sure you have forgiven those who have wronged you. Matthew 6:14,15 says, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” If being forgiven by God is dependent on whether or nor I forgive others, then how can I possibly feel forgiven if I am not willing to forgive? At times, you may feel better if you can make restitution. Where you can, you should. Although restitution does not bring about Gods forgiveness, it may help to alleviate the feelings of guilt. Remember that God’s forgiveness is a demonstration of His grace – a gift unearned.

Often there is nothing we can do to atone for sins we have committed. King David could not make restitution for the sins he had committed – adultery, then murder. But eventually he was able to claim God’s forgiveness. He was able to say: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1). David went from failure to forgiveness – from a messy situation to a new beginning.

There is nothing so evil that it is beyond the forgiveness of God. If you have asked God’s forgiveness, believe His truth. He has forgiven you. Now forgive yourself. Do you have the right to hold in bondage one whom Christ has freed? II Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think on “whatever is true.” Allow God to renew your mind and be set free. Like David, allow God to take you from failure to experiencing complete forgiveness: “He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:22).

Beatrice Klassen is a counsellor and a member of Niagara Falls (Ont.) Christian Fellowship.

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Last modified August 31, 2000.

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