What is Guilt?

The penalty for your sins has been paid in full. Therefore, live free in the joy of your salvation. The feeling of guilt is familiar to all of us. But it is worth stopping and asking ourselves the question: “What is guilt?” When we see this concept in Scripture, we often apply our cultural understanding to it. That is, we associate the word “guilt” with feelings of regret, depression, or rejection because of something we did in the past. But in the Scriptures, this word is primarily a legal concept and indicates responsibility — like a court declaring a person “guilty.” But what does this mean for the believer? We must know that we were guilty before God — Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned. But Jesus Christ took our guilt upon Himself on the cross and paid our debt in full. A person whose debt has been paid and whose charges have been dropped is no longer under that debt. We are forgiven. This does not mean that a believer should sin, ignore sin, or treat it lightly. When we sin, we must confess it to the Lord and be restored in our relationship with Him. But carrying a feeling of guilt is not a requirement to re-earn our salvation. The work of Jesus on the cross is sufficient. The Lord does not want us to hide the joy of our salvation under the weight of a stifling sense of guilt. On the contrary, we are called to rejoice in the magnificent redemption made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. Go today and live as a free person. The foundation of your salvation is not your own goodness, but the finished work of Christ.