If we are to experience an abundant life, we must first turn from our old life and receive the new. The old is temporary, the new is eternal. If we are to experience eternal life, we must turn from all that is temporary within to the life given to us by Christ’s resurrection. How do we know what is temporary unless God reveals it? We must allow the Spirit to search our heart and search our soul. As we consume truth, as we allow His Word to penetrate our heart, as we realize more of God’s character revealed in us- all that opposes becomes clear. When we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s heart. The Spirit’s testimony within our spirit will tell us when we have transgressed. We must step quickly into repentance when the Holy Spirit convicts, lest our flesh and the enemy rise to condemn. There is no need for a Christian to remain in feelings of guilt.
We have an opportunity in Christ to take our shame, our guilt, and condemnation to the throne of God and receive forgiveness. In the world we will be told we are at fault and we will feel the burden of responsibility on our shoulders. But in Christ there is a different way. We have the opportunity to go to God, lay our burdens down, and listen to the truth. Sometimes we will hear God correcting us and showing us a new way. When God corrects, we do not feel condemned but relieved; His way is like a breath of fresh air. Sometimes the worldly guilt and blame will be unjust. Either way, we walk forward in forgiveness. In this way, we let go of our failures and walk in newness of life and are naturally able to extend forgiveness to our accusers because we no longer feel the burden of accusation.
God’s forgiveness is tangible. It’s not some far away dream we know to be true but experience the contrary while we are here. It is not intended we exist in a lake of regret and condemnation for what we did or did not do. The new reality is that we have freedom in Christ. Today, when we step into obedience to the Holy Spirit, God is able to confirm us in our everyday life.
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