No doubt, guilt disturbs our entire being and leaves us struggling within.
This inner chaos caused by guilt is even greater when we come to think of our sins against the Holy and Just God. We are haunted by the truth that we can never hide anything from Him. We pierce His heart over and over again. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt. And His Word affirms that the entire humankind is a bunch of guilty rebels who deserve punishment.
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
And what can we do to make amends before the Righteous God? Truth be told, nothing. We have nothing to offer to God that is sufficient to pay the price of all our transgressions. No matter how hard we try, we fail to please God completely. Hence, we are doomed to eternal punishment – everlasting separation from the Loving God. Hopeless and helpless we truly are.
This is where the mystery of divine love enters – out of His abundant mercy, the Almighty sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to become the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT). And because of this, guilt has no more power over us. Reconciliation with God has been made possible. No additional offering necessary.
Hence, at times when guilt tries to bring us down – when the evil one condemns us of our past sins, may we listen to this hope-filled declaration: Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!