How to Be Free From Guiltনমুনা

Overcoming Guilt with Godly Counsel

Sometimes, believers struggle with guilt for their past sins because they lack a biblical understanding of their salvation. They might say, “I am not sure of the time and day that I was saved.” In other words, they tie their assurance of salvation to a particular event. The question they ask is: “When was I saved?’ The Bible, however, asks a different question: “Are you alive?” As believers, we need the Word of God to give us answers. However, we first need the Scripture to guide our questions. Some Christians deal with a troubled conscience because they ask the wrong questions.

In other words, we should not say, “I believe the Gospel. I believe that Christ died to save me. But I do not know of the specific time when I was converted.” The Bible emphasizes that salvation is not merely a one-time event but a continuous, transformative relationship with God. So instead of seeking to know the exact moment when we got saved, we need to examine what we believe. Here are the questions we should ask ourselves: “Do I believe the biblical Gospel? Do I love Jesus? Do I love my brothers and sisters in Christ? Do I recognize and confess my sins?” If we believe these things in our hearts, we are saved. Moreover, our salvation is a continuous process.

Newer believers need help navigating these truths. That is where godly counsel comes in. If you struggle with a guilty conscience on your own, go to your brothers and sisters in faith. Go to someone who is more mature: your pastor, an older believer, someone who has a stronger knowledge of the Word of God. Let them help you by informing your conscience with the Scriptural answers to your questions. A fellow believer can help you understand the Bible correctly.

At the same time, you do not have to be a new believer to ask for help. We all have moments of weakness. Every one of us might struggle with guilt no matter how long we have been saved. The Scriptures encourage us to pray and support one another when we are weak. As we accept Christ, we not only get a new Heavenly Father, we also get new brothers and sisters. We are a family. As the children of God, we can help each other to live a guilt-free, victorious life in Christ.

This devotional was inspired by an episode of the Straight Truth Podcast. You can listen to the episode at this link: Click Here