Have you ever been plagued with guilt for something you’ve done? I have. Guilt is terrible, but there’s a cure, forgiveness. We’ve all done regrettable things; no one has lived there without sinning. Heaven is a place with no pain or sorrow; it’s a place without sin. We can’t enter with any amount of sin. This is why God had to send Jesus to the earth in human form. Jesus lived perfectly so He could pay the price for our sins.
He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Titus 3:5-6
Sympathetic High Priest
God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to live that sinless life, being tempted in every way like we are, but he didn’t sin. This made Him eligible to pay the price for our sins. He walked in our shoes so we can be confident that He knows exactly how we feel. He knows what it’s like, He’s with us in it, and He took our punishment on the cross for our sins.
For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.
Hebrews 4:15
God’s Mighty Love and Diaper Changes
God loves us too much to leave us to die in our sins. He didn’t send Jesus because we deserved His forgiveness. It was out of God’s love and compassion for us that He had to help us. Just as a good parent cares for their young child who can’t feed themselves or change their diaper, it was pure love for us in our helpless state that He made a way of escape for us.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).
Titus 3:7
Sinners and Saints
Our pride can be our enemy. It’s hard to admit that we need a God in order to get to heaven. It might be easier to blame Him for things that go wrong or evil in the world. We might feel better when holding Him accountable, but it doesn’t change our need for a savior. It doesn’t change the fact that He sent one. The anger, blame, and deflection may temporarily feel good but will keep us out of heaven. My mom says the ground is level at the foot of the cross. We all stand in need of grace. God’s holiest, most fervent servant stands at the foot of the cross with the vilest sinner, both in need of grace. It’s not us, but His love for us. It’s not our works but His grace that saves.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Easy
As you read this, if things came to your mind that gave you a bit of guilt, that is guilt being revealed in your soul. Jesus can forgive that; you don’t have to feel guilty anymore. The Apostle Paul made the plan of salvation so easy in chapter eight of Romans (see below). If you know that you have sinned, that Jesus came to take your punishment for these sins, and confess that out loud, you will be saved. Call on Him; He’s there and waiting.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” … 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 8:9-13
