Free at Last!

 

For years, I lived under very legalistic teachings.  My teachers didn't understand the love of God themselves, so how could they teach it?  As a result of this teaching, I lived in a constant state of guilt and condemnation (I'm pretty sure the teachers did too), and I had a hard time reading Bible passages where God was angry at someone, because I automatically thought He was also angry at me.  

In a legalistic system, you will never be "enough."  You don't ever pray enough, you don't witness enough, you simply aren't good enough...

When I sinned, although I always repented, I couldn't believe that God really forgave me.  I had a hard time understanding the level of God's forgiveness.  His amazing promise is that once we repent, He'll forgive us of ALL our sins.

It took some time, but I was eventually able to break free from the guilt by purposefully and actively thanking Him for His forgiveness.  Here are some of the verses I used in my prayers.  These powerful promises set me free, and I know they'll do the same for you!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  (1 John 1:9 NIV) 

Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that’s what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:10b,11 NIV)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. (Col 1:21-23 NIV)

How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!  (Hebrews 9:14 NIV)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Ps 103:11-12 NIV)

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19 NIV)

"Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”  (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 NIV)

Note:  For a more indepth article on being set free from legalistic guilt and condemnation, see  "Come back in."  

 

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV  Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.  Used by permission of Zondervan.  All rights reserved worldwide.www.zondervan.com.  The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.