The B Part - Guilt Be Gone

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins...
1st John 1:9a Common English Bible (CEB)

Guilty. NOBODY wants to feel guilty. It's a yucky feeling... as such, it's one of satan's greatest tools. We don't read our Bible - guilt.

We don't give the offering to the missionary - guilt.

We don't make or take the phone call, too busy to write the email - guilt.

We do whatever it is that separates us from God - guilt.

Next thing you know, the relationship can be (and often is) damaged. We slip into avoidance (separation), skip church... why? 

Because we feel guilty. 

So we get miserable to the point that we go under or go with what we remember - If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins... but we still feel guilty. 

Did you know there is another part to that verse? The whole verse is, But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong. And why? Just so we can feel better? No, although that is part of it.

Hebrews 9:14, NIV tells us, How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! [emphasis mine] That's why He cleanses our consciences. So we can serve Him!

When we're wrapped up in our own unrighteousness, the guilt, shame and condemnation, there's no way we serve the living God! We may even be unwise enough to try to hide or maybe try to become Super Christian, trying to get to Heaven by our works. Do not be deceived. We cannot earn our salvation.

Jesus tells us plainly in John 14:6, NLT, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

There's only ONE way to God; through the Blood of Jesus that was  shed to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. Our sins. AND to cleanse our consciences. One translation reads, purify our consciences. That's the B part - Guilt Be Gone.

Prayer:

Father,

         Teach us to embrace Your Truth, Your whole Truth, and nothing but Your Truth. By the shed Blood of Jesus Christ to purify our consciences and to cleanse us from EVERYTHING we've done wrong. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen