What To Do With Our Guilt

Guilt is something we all experience. It weighs us down, keeps us stuck in the past, and sometimes even controls our actions. Many of us carry guilt for things we have already been forgiven for, allowing it to shape our decisions and steal our joy. But the good news is that God has a better way for us to deal with guilt—one that leads to true freedom and lasting peace.

In Hebrews 9, we see a powerful contrast between the Old Testament system of sacrifices and the perfect work of Jesus Christ. Under the old covenant, the people of Israel relied on priests to offer sacrifices on their behalf. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place and make a sacrifice for the sins of the people. But this system was temporary—it could never fully cleanse the conscience or remove guilt permanently. The sacrifices had to be repeated year after year, constantly reminding people of their sin.

Then came Jesus. Hebrews 9:12 tells us, “With His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.” Jesus became our perfect High Priest, offering Himself as the final and complete sacrifice. Unlike the Old Testament system, His blood doesn’t just cover sin—it removes it completely. His sacrifice cleanses us from the inside out, purifying our hearts and setting us free from guilt.

Too often, we act like the little boy in the sermon’s opening story—carrying the weight of our sin long after we’ve been forgiven. Just like Billy was manipulated by his sister’s reminders of his mistake, we let guilt keep us in bondage. But God is not standing over us with condemnation. Instead, He is waiting for us to come to Him, confess our sins, and receive the forgiveness He has already provided through Jesus.

We don’t have to keep running back to the old system, trying to earn God’s approval or cover our mistakes with religious rituals. Jesus has made a way for us to live in freedom. When He died on the cross, the temple curtain was torn in two, symbolizing that the separation between God and humanity was removed. We now have direct access to God, and our guilt no longer has the power to define us.

So what should we do with our guilt? We should bring it to Jesus. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness.” When we acknowledge our sin before God, He doesn’t turn us away—He welcomes us with open arms. His forgiveness isn’t temporary or conditional; it is complete and eternal.

If you’ve been carrying guilt, today is the day to let it go. Jesus didn’t just die for your sins—He rose again to give you new life. The cross is our permanent reminder that we are forgiven, cleansed, and set free. Let’s stop living as prisoners of guilt and start walking in the joy and freedom that Christ has given us!

​- Adapted from sermons preached across our 3 campuses on 2/16/25.