Guilt and Condemnation

What is Guilt? The Webster's dictionary says, "to pay, to requite, payment, retribution, to pay, to yield, that state of a moral agent which results from his willful or intentional commission of a crime or offense; knowing it to be a crime or violation of law."

Plainly put, guilt is the initial onset that comes when we think we didn't make the mark. We didn't keep the law. We didn't do everything right. And with this guilt, we somehow feel the need to pay for something we did - which is the condemnation. Frustration also comes by trying to keep the law. (Galatians 2:21)

Does this sound like someone who has received forgiveness? Guilt comes when we have not received forgiveness for whatever it is we think we did. We think we have to pay for whatever we did, so we stay in the state of guilt. Many have been under guilt about their kids, about decisions made long ago, and still carrying that guilt around today. It has become a part of their life. I know that a person who has not received forgiveness always walks around guilty about everything. In conversation, they would continually say, "I feel guilty about…" But this is not to be so. Guilt was crucified with Christ. He became "guilty" for us, for our sins, yesterdays, today's and tomorrows sins. The only way to abolish guilt in your life completely is to receive the sacrifice Jesus made.

How do you receive forgiveness? First you have to know Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you don't, then you'll have a very difficult time getting free from guilt and condemnation. Then once you have settled that, then you need to "apply" the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to your own life. You need to "receive" the forgiveness IMMEDIATELY when you feel you have done something wrong. If you don't, then condemnation comes.

Guilt is from the enemy. It's his way of pounding you on the head for doing something wrong, that he may have even told you to do in the first place! Let's say you get tempted to eat a whole chocolate cake. You are drawn to that cake, and it looks so good, etc. (Remember, the enemy tempts.) Then after you eat it, you feel guilty for eating it. The very thing the enemy tempts you on, he then "accuses" you afterward - resulting in guilt. However, if you were tempted to eat that cake, then realized afterward you should not have, simply receive forgiveness for eating that cake. Confess it as sin (if it is sin to you) and receive forgiveness. The longer you wait to confess and receive, the more guilt will come.

Carried guilt, even after repentance and forgiveness causes us to accuse God. We become the "accuser" - we need to confess our sins of accusation toward God. Be specific too. Name off the things that you are feeling guilty for and then apply the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross at that moment of confession. What happens is that we don't do that. We do something we think is wrong, and then think about what we did over and over, and then guilt sets in. Remember in II Corinthians 10:5 - taking every thought captive. Don't let the accusing thoughts take hold. They may come, but then you need to say, "Yes, I did that thing, but I've RECEIVED forgiveness for it. I don't need to pay for anything at all, Jesus paid it all - ALL."

When we feel guilt, we are putting ourselves on the cross in Jesus' place! Can you truly do that? No. But that's what we are doing. We are making Christ's sacrifice of none affect. We are slapping Him in the face, so-to-speak, and telling Him we need to do it ourselves. These are lies from the enemy and each one of these thoughts needs to be taken captive and cast out of our thinking. Only Jesus can "pay" the penalty. And remember, when we feel guilty, we are trying to "pay" for our sins or whatever we did we think was wrong.

What is condemnation? First lets look up the word condemn. The Webster's dictionary says, "To pronounce to be utterly wrong, to sentence to punishment, to pronounce to be guilty, to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service". And condemnation in Webster's dictionary says it means, "The act of condemning, the cause or reason of a sentence of condemnation."

What an eye opener! When the guilt starts, condemnation is just around the corner. Because first we feel "guilty" (not applying the forgiveness through Jesus immediately to our situation), then because of that initial THOUGHT, the results set in. The manifestation of that guilt is called "condemnation" and looks like this: We tell ourselves that we are so wrong, we are so horrible, we feel unworthy to receive any good and when we do receive good, we feel even worse because we don't think we "deserve" it. We even "pronounce" to others how unfit we are, how unworthy we are, how bad we are, how we just will never amount to anything." In other words, you have placed sentence on yourself.

In the judicial system, guilt and condemnation is a daily routine. We can apply this to what we do to ourselves. When someone is found "guilty" then they are "condemned" (sentenced) to "pay" for their guilt. It could be jail sentence, retribution, and even death. So if you think about it. When you find yourself "guilty" what is your sentence? What are you trying to "pay?" What is the going payment these days? Loss of sleep? Self-worthlessness? Fear? Driven to please? See, in order to be completely guilt free, which will not result in any condemnation, the answer is simple.

Receive, receive, and receive forgiveness IMMEDIATELY.

If you are carrying around old guilt and condemning yourself for it daily, you need to confess those things you are feeling guilty for and NOW receive forgiveness for them. ALL OF THEM! Not one thing you have done or ever will do is more powerful than the blood that was shed on the cross. If you think so, then you need to go back and re-learn what it means to be saved.

I find that when people are saved, they are saved through believing that Christ is the Son of God and that He died for their sins. They receive this truth into their heart, and now they are saved. But the second part is missed. They now have to receive that sacrifice Jesus made into their own lives and nail every one of their sins to the cross. Receive complete forgiveness at the time the sin occurs, not wait until later, or don't receive at all, otherwise guilt and condemnation comes.

I'll give you an example of my life personally.

I had felt guilty for not being a good mom for my son. If any of you have read my story in the book I wrote called, "A Matter of the Mind" you will see what I'm talking about. My son is now an adult, yet I carried that guilt still. And because of that guilt, all my life I tried, to "re-pay" him for how I was. I could never PAY for anything! All I was doing was staying in my guilt - which is sin. Because I didn't know how to apply forgiveness to my guilt! So one day while visiting my son, the Lord showed me that I needed to let that guilt go. I had to confess why I was feeling guilty. So I did. I began with saying, "I wasn't there for my son. I gave him to his father to raise from childhood. How I feel responsible for his happiness and trying to pay back what I wasn't there to give him all his life. I realized then I was taking on false sense of responsibility for my son's happiness. The Lord showed me that it's no longer my job. It was when he was a child, but those years are gone and he's a grown man. He's over 30 years old, it's not my job any longer to provide for him or help him in his happiness. But because of these guilty thoughts, condemnation (feelings of having to "pay") always follows.

So after I realized that I had to let my son go, that I can never pay him for what I think I needed to pay him for, and releases myself from the guilt I had carried by confessing, and then receiving forgiveness for my sins that resulted in that guilt - then and only then was I set free. I cried and cried, because the pain of guilt was leaving, the condemnation was leaving! I was being delivered just by receiving forgiveness!!

My son and my relationship has improved greatly. I don't feel bad for anything anymore (which is the same as guilt) if I don't call him on his birthday, or that he doesn't call me on my birthday. I've set him free, and in setting him free I was set free too. My son is free to do and be all he wants, the way he wants, and I'm now there to enjoy him in his life. It is truly freeing my friends! And the truth is, he's God's son anyway, and it's His job to provide, help in his happiness, and help him in life, not mine. I'm there for him, but I'm not to "do" for him. That's God's job.

So with all that said, it's time to look upon your own life. Do you know of anything in your life that you still carry guilt around for? I'm sure you can think of a thing or two. It's time to be set free. Pray this prayer:

"Father in Heaven, you are more than able to handle each and every sin and mistake I've made in my life. As a matter of fact, you even knew I was going to do them before I was even born! Help me get a revelation on your unconditional love. That nothing I can ever say or do is unforgivable. Help me to apply the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for my sins. Help me to receive forgiveness. I confess that I have carried guilt with me. The guilt of ____________(Then name off your guilt). I know that I have condemned myself - placed sentence on myself to pay for that guilt - but Jesus already paid for it. I will not put myself in the place of Jesus, that is sin and idolatry. I will right now receive the forgiveness of my sins that resulted in that guilt, and apply the forgiveness, love and peace that Jesus wants me to have, now. And if anything from this day on happens that causes me to feel guilt, I will immediately stop and receive forgiveness so that the condemnation will not take root in my life. Help me to stay guilt free Lord. I know that I can by applying forgiveness every day to my life. Help me Lord to get a revelation on forgiveness and receiving that forgiveness. After all, that's why you came! To free me from ALL guilt. I receive your complete forgiveness, your perfect love, joy, peace, understanding, wisdom, direction and discernment, all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Conviction:

We cannot discuss guilt and condemnation without talking about conviction. Conviction is from God. He will show you the errors of your way, then forget it. He never pounces on your head when you make a mistake. He tries to nudge you and prompt you BEFORE you make a decision, convicts you when you make a wrong decision, but NEVER gives you guilt. Why? Because He's forgiven you. A Christian is forgiven, whether they accept the forgiveness of not, that is why God doesn't condemn. Jesus was condemned for us and so God NEVER condemns us! That's what the Devil does. So who are you going to trust? The truth that God forgives immediately? Or a lie that we have to pay for our mistakes?

Go on to Session 8 or return Back to make your own selection.