{"id":43,"date":"2021-04-29T18:05:08","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T18:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ec2-54-84-17-14.compute-1.amazonaws.com\/?p=43"},"modified":"2021-08-25T18:22:52","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T18:22:52","slug":"does-god-use-guilt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.feilcounselingandconsulting.com\/index.php\/does-god-use-guilt\/","title":{"rendered":"Does God use guilt?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a full-time counselor, I encounter many people who struggle with guilt and shame.  I often find this a challenging issue for people.  Because I see Christians struggling with guilt in my counseling work, I decided to explore Biblical teaching on the topic of guilt, so that I could have an accurate \u201ctheology of guilt.\u201d  This is a summary of what I discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you struggle with feeling guilty?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Guilt in the Old Testament was a result of the law.  When people did not fulfill the law, they were then guilty.  God developed the sacrifice system led by the priests to \u201csatisfy\u201d the people\u2019s guilt and cleanse them (until the next time!).  There were even guilt offerings to pay for the sins committed under the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t see that model as relevant to my clients since we live under grace rather than the law, so I dedicated my study to the New Testament.  What is the role of guilt in the age of grace?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccording to the Strong\u2019s Concordance (using the King James Version), there are only 7 references to guilt in the entire New Testament”<\/strong><\/p>Strong\u2019s Concordance (KJV)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 23:18<\/strong> \u2013 Jesus said that if you swear by the animal sacrifice you are guilty to that \u2013 this is clearly tied to the Old Testament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 26:66<\/strong> \u2013 Caiaphas declared Jesus guilty of death for blasphemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark 14:64 <\/strong>\u2013 Same passage \u2013 the high priest declares Jesus guilty of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke 23:4,14,22<\/strong> \u2013 Pilate tells the high priest that he sees no guilt in Jesus \u2013 says this 3 times!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romans 3:19<\/strong> \u2013 The law judges all guilty before God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James 2:10<\/strong> \u2013 If you don\u2019t keep the whole law, you are then guilty of all of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So in these 6 references, we see 3 have to do with the law\u2014if you try to live by the law, the law will judge you guilty.  We already knew this, since the Old Testament tells us this!  So this has no application to us now except to say that if we try to be good enough through our human efforts, we will fail!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other 3 references are about Jesus.  The high priest said He was guilty and Pilate said He had no guilt.  We already know Jesus was and is holy and blameless, so this does not apply to us \u2013 it only affirms Jesus\u2019 perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, there is only 1 New Testament reference to guilt that may apply to us<\/strong> \u2013 1 Corinthians 11:27 \u2013 Paul confronts the Corinthians for abusing communion.  Communion is directly commanded to us by Jesus Himself to do until He returns.  The Corinthians were getting drunk on the wine and eating the bread out of hunger!  Have you ever seen communion done this way?  Paul says that because of this abuse of communion God judged the people guilty (no mention if the Corinthians felt guilty or not!) and some were sick and some died to preserve their souls (verses 30-32).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the entire New Testament teaching on guilt.  I can only conclude that under grace, God does not use guilt.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then I have found 1 other reference to guilt.  In the NIV, Hebrews 10:22 says that Christ\u2019s blood He shed on the cross cleanses us from a guilty conscience.  The NASB says \u201cevil\u201d conscience.  So this would reinforce the point \u2013 God doesn\u2019t use guilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why do so many Christians struggle with guilt if it\u2019s not from God? <\/strong> It must be we believers listening to Satan accuse us before God (Revelation 12:10) and he wants us feeling guilty!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So if God doesn’t use guilt, what does He use under grace?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Conviction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greek word used for conviction appears numerous times in the New Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Holy Spirit convicts the world (John 16:8-11).  So why does God use conviction rather than guilt?  Do a side-by-side comparison:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guilt Conviction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. How long does it last?<\/td>Forever<\/td>Until we take care of the sin in our life<\/td><\/tr>
2. What steps do we need to take?<\/td>Who knows!<\/td>Confess our sins, repent (turn 180\u00b0 away), and if necessary make restitution<\/td><\/tr>
3. What is the result of it?<\/td>Makes us miserable<\/td>Restores us into a right relationship with the Lord<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are no doubt times when believers who are being convicted of sin do feel guilty.  There are other times we may feel convicted and know we need to obey the Lord, yet do not necessarily feel guilty!  According to 2 Corinthians 7:10 \u201cGodly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death\u201d \u2013 this is why Godly sorrow is conviction, not guilt!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My conclusions then are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Under grace, God does not use guilt.<\/li>
  2. We feel guilty when we listen to Satan\u2019s accusations; try to make ourselves good enough by living by the law, or perhaps are actually under some kind of conviction.<\/li>
  3. Conviction is used by God because it frees us and restores us into the right relationship with Him \u2013 it leads to peace.<\/li>
  4. Guilt is not used because it enslaves, does not lead to fruit of the Spirit, and lasts forever (bondage).<\/li>
  5. Many people struggle with guilt because they were raised by adults who used guilt to control them growing up.<\/li>
  6. Christians should never use guilt to motivate others since it\u2019s not how God leads!<\/li>
  7. If a Christian feels guilty, they first need to pray and ask God to reveal any sin that they might be experiencing conviction on.  If God reveals sin, let the believer do the 3 steps outlined for us (confess, repent, if necessary do restitution).  If there is no indication from the Lord of sin, then let the believer know that this is not from God and to rather seek communion with Him and let the guilt go \u2013 live in freedom instead.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Looking for more? You can contact me below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Logo<\/figure>
    \n

    Doug Feil MS, LPC (720-689-4631)<\/strong> dfeil@feilcounselingandconsulting.com<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6112 S. Devinney Way, Littleton, CO 80127<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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