Guilt offering
They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven.
Leviticus 5:18 NIV
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalm 32:5 NIV
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22 NIV
Inevitably, we will all stand before the Lord in His court of heaven upon judgement day. It is as if, I can hear the sound of a gavel reverberating throughout the courtroom in response to the shouts of the accuser, as this vile prosecutor makes his case against us. Glibly, this representative of evil, continually reads aloud from the record of our wrongs. Guilty, we will stand before the Judge Eternal within the clamoring of accusation - awaiting our verdict - for there is a price to be paid.
At the confession of our sin, the Righteous Judge, with fire in His eyes, and great love within His heart, will declare our sentence. The penalty for our sin demands a great price, a debt only the Lamb of God could pay. As we stand before the Father, He will lift our head, His glory covers us, as the cross of Christ declares, we are…GUILT FREE!
Only in Christ, can one be guilty and be found guilt free - for all eternity!
This truth is repeatedly found throughout the Holy Word of God; yet, why do our hearts struggle to embrace a guilt free life here on this earth? What keeps us from doing so?
Yes, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord. No one is perfect. No one sin free. Miraculously, in Christ, there is forgiveness of sin - a complete, total, liberation from our iniquity. We are purified, sanctified, out-and-out set free. Though guilty, through the power of God, our guilty stains are washed away. Our guilty conscience becomes cleansed through the sacrifice of Christ - the perfect Lamb of God - consumes all of our blame.
Nevertheless, what makes us feel guilty?
I submit, one can be found guilty - guilty by association - association with the enemy of our soul. As we entertain the corrupt whispers of the accuser, the nagging pang of condemnation judges us with a vengeance. The venom of it’s tongue acts as a recurring reminder of haunting details, declaring that the magnitude of our sin is too great to forgive. Worry encroaches. Shame blankets us. Agony torments. Despair builds. Disillusioned, we become doused in guilt. It is all an attempt - a lure - to rob from us the fullness of our salvation.
It comes down to this: Whose report will you believe? For me, I will believe the report of the Lord!
Little ears, be careful what you hear.
Prayer
Oh Righteous Judge,
I accept Your verdict over me - COMPLETELY!
I repent for not fully embracing the freedom of the cross. I have been listening to the accusations of the adversary, allowing his words to penetrate my identity. I repent, Lord, for clinging to the lies of the serpent, and not to the victory of the cross.
I take captive every thought, and make it obedient to Christ. I choose to believe the Word of God over the corrupt cries of condemnation, for the shed blood of the Lamb of God has cleansed my guilty conscience.
No longer, will I associate with the enemy of my soul, entertaining his accusations against me.
Today, I decree, I have overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of my testimony.
Though I am guilty - in Christ - I am GUILT FREE!
Amen!
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