Don't Kill Guilt

Sin without guilt hardens the heart.
Guilt without forgiveness condemns the heart.

There is a dangerous teaching that is spreading in our time under the guise of grace. Since we live under grace, it is claimed that believers don’t need to feel guilty, repent and confess their sins. It is argued that all sins [past, present and future] are paid on the cross and believers now don’t have to experience guilt and repentance. 

And to save them from going through what is supposed as negative experiences, the often quoted Scripture is, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Necessity of Guilt and Repentance

It is true that Christ died for all our sins [past, present and future], but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have to go through guilt and repentance when we sin. To the born-again believers, the beloved disciple of Christ wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, ESV). 

It is important to note that we cannot honestly confess our sins, as it is mentioned above, without feeling guilty of our sins with a penitent heart.

It is also true that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, but it doesn’t keep us away from the necessity to go through guilt and repentance when we sin.

According to Cambridge Dictionary, guilt is a feeling of unhappiness that you have because you have done something wrong. Shouldn't we feel unhappy when we commit sin? Should we sin and then just claim Christ's forgiveness without going through sorrow [guilt] and repentance? 

Condemnation speaks about constant accusation of sins and punishment which are wiped off because of the atonement of Christ on the cross. But guilt speaks of being conscious of one’s sins for a while and acknowledging them before God, even before people when necessary. And this guilt is necessary, leading to repentance and transforming one’s life to Christlikeness. (2 Cor. 7:10)

Although we are free from the eternal condemnation of sin, we are not completely free from the presence of sin in and around us. For this reason, sanctification is a requirement for us, so guilt and repentance are God’s sanctifying work in us. 

Paul's Dealing with Guilt

Now there is so much to speak about the necessity of guilt and repentance in Christian life. For now, we will just focus on how Paul viewed and dealt with guilt. Our reflection upon this would expose us to a balanced view and approach towards guilt which has become a much confounded issue of our time.

When the Corinthian believers were indulged in carnality, becoming desensitized to sin in church and questioning even his apostolic authority, Paul wrote a strong letter to bring correction to their wayward lifestyle. Consequently, this caused great guilt and sorrow to these believers. 

Did Paul feel it was wrong for them to feel guilty or did he himself feel sorry for letting them feel guilty? Let us see how Paul dealt with their guilt. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote:

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it – I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while – yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Cor. 7:8-10, NIV)

There are helpful insights for us to learn from the above passage:

FIRST, Paul did not feel sorry for making the Corinthians feel guilty through his letter. He expressed, “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it” (2 Cor. 7:8). Even if he did regret a bit, he was glad to see what his penetrating words have produced in their heart.

Remember, guiltless heart shrinks back and sinks immediately in sin. Let guilt finish its work, producing true sorrow in heart. The Corinthians believers felt guilty about which Paul thought it was good for them. It is good to feel guilty when we sin. It is not good not to feel bad for the bad we do.

SECOND, when guilt is adequately conceived, it gives birth to repentance. Paul said that godly sorrow, which is guilt, leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). Where there is no guilt there is no repentance. And where there is no repentance, there is no change.

Mark this point—to feel guilty is not the goal but the change of life for the glory of God. So, there is nothing wrong to feel bad about ourself when it leads to change for good. In fact, we do not know how good we ought to be unless we realize how bad we are.

THIRD, Paul wrote to Corinthians, “For you became sorrowful as God intended…” (2 Cor. 7:9). When people sin God wants them to feel sorrowful and regret for what they did. He doesn’t want them to stay relaxed in sin and casually seek His forgiveness. 

God is holy and He does not want His children to trifle with His commands nor does He desire for them to treat evil with a flippant attitude. God takes delight in those who grieve for what grieves His heart.

FOURTH, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret,” said Paul (2 Cor. 7:10). When people feel greatly sorrowful for their sin against God, the result is greater transformation and joy in the Lord.  

The more we regret, the more we are consoled, changed and blessed with the joy of God’s Spirit. But when there is no guilt and sorrow, there is no excitement of God’s forgiveness and transformation in heart.

This reminds of David’s words, “You turned my wailing into dancing” (Ps. 30:11). It is after wailing comes dancing. How good it is to wail in order to dance! David also expressed that God’s “anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). Weeping should remain for a while so that great rejoicing may follow it.

So how good it is to cry, weep, mourn and wail, feeling intense sorrow leading to repentance, so that it would result in great joy, peace, and transformation in God! Did not James echo the same point in his letter to believers, “Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up”? (James 4:9-10).

FIFTH and finally, Paul said that his letter grieved the Corinthian believers for a little while (2 Cor. 7:8). It is good to feel guilty for a little while. However, it is not good to grieve and feel guilty for a longer time. It is interesting to notice that Paul neither hurried to comfort the Corinthians nor did he delay. Hastiness in comforting the wrong doer or letting the guilt to grow excessively—both are unhealthy.

Paul said that godly sorrow produces repentance, leading to salvation, and leaves no regret (2 Cor. 7:10). After we have thoroughly gone through guilt and repentance, experiencing God’s forgiveness and life-transforming power, there is no need to regret later. 

Healthy guilt stays for a while, bringing healing to heart; but condemnation lasts longer, dragging hurt and stifling change. Condemnation persistently accuses oneself for the blunders that have been committed. It is consistently brooding over past mistakes and failures. What is needed is guilt leading to repentance, forgiveness and transformation of life without falling into condemnation. 

Eventually, here is my point—don’t kill guilt. Kill sin through guilt and repentance. And beware of being killed by self-condemnation.

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