What do you mean?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Well, it seems that I’m always either guilty that I did something <\/span><\/p>\n or guilty that I didn’t.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What are you afraid of?\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I am afraid of upsetting you somehow. <\/span><\/p>\n I don\u2019t want to displease You, but then again, <\/span><\/p>\n don\u2019t really know what to do about it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFear involves punishment\u201d (1 John 4:18). <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The one who fears judgment <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n obviously doesn\u2019t understand Me or My perspective.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Surely feeling guilty helps You know just how sorry I am about it, right? <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve always heard that doing some kind of penance <\/span><\/p>\n proves my repentance to You and helps restore our fellowship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And within this very belief lies the problem. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Let me ask you something. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Do you believe that I sent My Son<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n into the world to deliver it (1 John 4:14)?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Absolutely. I\u2019ve believed that since I was a child.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do you believe that I forgave you of your sins?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yes.\u201cGod in Christ also has forgiven you\u201d (Ephesians 4:24).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Good job. Now notice, My dear child. The tense here is past<\/span>. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I forgave<\/span> you all of your transgressions – 2000 years ago – <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n and nailed them on the cross with My Son (Colossians 2:13-14).<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n The bad thought that you dwelt on this morning\u2026.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n yeah, it also was nailed on the cross. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Tomorrow’s anger when you feel disrespected? <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Yep, it was on there, too.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Why are you obsessed with these things <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n when I have chosen to forget them (Psalm 103:12)?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It just doesn\u2019t make any sense. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s easier to wrap my head around a progressive forgiveness <\/span><\/p>\n rather than this once and done type.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You are trying to look at it like from your perspective. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n But that\u2019s just not how I see it.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Why is it easier to believe I forgave your past sins when you asked, <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n rather than the future ones you haven’t\u00a0<\/span>committed<\/span>\u00a0yet.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n All of your sins were\u00a0future stuff\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n from the perspective of the cross.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0Can\u2019t I both forgive your sins as well as dismiss them forever?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How can this be?<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen sins have been forgiven, <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n there is no need<\/span> to offer any<\/span> more sacrifices\u201d (Hebrews 10:18).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n No more need for penance. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n No more need for groveling. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n No more need for guilt. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n By the one time offering for sin – 2000 years ago – <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n you are now for all time<\/strong> considered perfect (Hebrews 10:14). <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n I commanded that you are to be perfect just like Me, <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n so now I have made You so<\/strong> (Matthew 5:48). <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n When My Son said, \u201cIt is finished\u201d (John 19:30), <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t just talking about His trial. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n He was talking about yours, too<\/em>!<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So how then do I live? What am I supposed to do?<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSet your mind on things above\u201d, <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n not on your own conduct (Colossians 3:2). <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Praise Me for all that I\u2019ve done and then just live. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to change what you do. <\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Just change Who<\/span> you are doing them for<\/span> (Colossians 3:23). <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n My Son set you free, <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n so you could enjoy the freedom (Galatians 5:1). <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Stop obsessing with what it looks like and just do life.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Will you help me?<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Absolutely. How about this? <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Every time that old familiar feeling of guilt creeps up, <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n you counter it by praising Me (aloud if possible) <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n for setting you free from that deed. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Can you do that?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n With Your help! <\/span><\/p>\n Praise You for being satisfied with all my tomorrows<\/span> (Hebrews 13:15). <\/span><\/p>\n
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