Rev. David Holwick ZN
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
December 2, 1990
Hebrews 10:1-7
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I. Many people are destroyed by guilt.
A. People are victimized by the past.
1) Something bad they have done, or shameful thing done to them.
2) Cannot feel forgiven.
B. Society: Reaction against guilt.
1) Many see it as a religious invention to control people.
a) British writer Gerald Priestland.
b) Destroys people's self-confidence.
2) Guilt is unnecessary.
C. Bible: Guilt is something which really exists.
1) Universal concept of "conscience."
Human conscience reveals God's will and standards.
Standards of morality may vary from culture to culture, but
an inner conscience of basic morality is in all people.
A missionary to northern Brazil observed a very nervous and
fidgety native with sweat on his brow enter the village.
He seemed very uneasy even in the presence of his friends.
Later, the missionary learned that this fellow had just
killed a man of another tribe.
In this society it was not considered wrong to kill a member
of another tribe.
But this man was obviously under the pressure of a guilty
conscience.
His heart told him he had done something wrong.
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2) Guilt can be a good thing.
a) It gives us moral guidance.
b) Psychopaths result where it is lacking.
II. What is guilt?
A. Objective reality. (Biblical view)
1) Violation of God's laws bears a penalty.
a) Whether we "feel it" or not. Lev 4:27
b) Whole world is guilty before God. Rom 3:19-20
2) Guilt is a condition that must be removed.
B. Emotional response. Heb 10:2,22
1) We feel we will have to pay for some bad act.
2) A sense of continuing dread can result.
a) Some experience it deeply.
b) Others (psychopaths) don't experience it at all.
III. How to remove guilt.
A. A price must be paid to remove guilt.
1) In OT, sacrifices "covered" a person's guilt.
a) Temporary and inadequate. Heb 10:4
2) NT - Jesus sacrificed once and for all, for us. Heb 10:10
"By his stripes, we are healed." Isa 53
a) Unrepeatable. Heb 10:10
1> We can no longer be punished for our sins.
b) Fully adequate.
1> He can forgive any sin.
2> Jesus was punished for our sins. We can't be.
c) Available to all.
1> Takes faith to appropriate it.
2> With faith, it should not be doubted.
B. Recognize that we have sinned.
C. Confess sins. 1 John 2:1
D. Sorrow for sin. (Emotional guilt can remind us we need God.)
1) False sorrow.
a) Guilty at being caught.
2) Godly sorrow. 2 Cor 7:10-12
a) A changed heart results (repentance).
b) Guilt is removed.
c) Eagerness to prove sincerity results.
E. Fruit of repentance. (Shows we take it seriously)
1) Concrete change in life.
2) Restitution. (Penance)
a) Abused in past.
1> Indulgences.
2> ??? Young Catholic kid and 3 Hail Mary's.??[no]
b) Valid Biblical principle. Exod 22:9; Lev 5:15-17
1> Proof of sincerity.
2> Doesn't purchase forgiveness, but shows you
understand its importance.
IV. Accept God's forgiveness.
A. Much guilt results from a lack of trust in God's forgiveness.
Richard Hoefler's book "Will Daylight Come" includes this
homey story:
A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first
slingshot.
He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target.
As he came back to Grandma's backyard, he spied her pet duck.
On impulse he took aim and let fly.
The stone hit and the duck fell dead.
The boy panicked.
Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up
and see his sister Sally watching.
Sally had seen it all, but said nothing.
After lunch that day, Grandma said,
"Sally, let's wash the dishes."
But Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen
today. Didn't you, Johnny?"
She quickly whispered,
"Remember the duck!" So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing.
Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper."
Sally smiled and said, "That's all taken care of.
Johnny wants to do it."
And again the whisper, "Remember the duck!"
Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing.
After several days of doing both his chores and Sally's, he
couldn't stand it.
He confessed to Grandma that he killed the duck.
"I know, Johnny," she said, giving him a hug.
I saw the whole thing.
I was angry, but because I love you, I forgave you.
I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave
of you."
Johnny, by way of his Grandmother, learned something of God's
grace that day.
God's grace is not earned, but it is given: freely, simply and
abundantly.
We can seek it, even expect it, but we are not in a position to
demand it.
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B. Refusing forgiveness means we are trusting in our own strength.
C. Peace of mind results from accepting God's grace.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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