All My Guilt Is Gone

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. [Psalm 32.5]

To say, "all my guilt is gone," is a big deal. Is it just me, or do others have a hard time making that statement as well? Giving this post its title was difficult.

Only an encounter with the Holy Spirit can truly remove guilt. No amount of going to church, being good or doing the right things can substitute for genuine repentance resultant to the tangible conviction of the Holy Spirit. We need the conviction of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit is not confined to any set of rules for how He works and brings conviction. However, there is one method that prevails:

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? [Romans 10.14]

God seems to have chosen to use submitted humans. And most commonly, this human participation comes in the form of preaching.

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [1 Corinthians 1.21]

"Preaching" is not as common as it once was in mainstream Christianity. Is it any wonder why? With all the social and political correctness promoted today, preaching has suffered greatly. If preaching seemed foolish in Paul's day, how much more foolish does it seem today? 

However, preaching is NOT foolish. By it God still saves. Preaching creates the atmosphere in which the Holy Spirit effectively brings conviction. The conviction spoken of here is markedly more than emotion. Emotion comes and goes, but conviction lingers...

Many Christian leaders today avoid using the word "preach" and, instead, use the word, "teach," as it denotes a milder approach. And, understandably so as this milder approach seems to build larger congregations... But has this milder approach built godly character? I dare say not. Why? Because God chose to use preaching, not teaching, to bring conviction that leads to repentance that leads to peace (all guilt gone). Teaching attracts those who want to acquire knowledge and generally feel good about themselves. Preaching, on the other hand, attracts those who want to have peace (understanding it only comes through conviction that leads to genuine repentance). Naturally, preaching attracts a smaller crowd!

Hmm.

Father, help us not be contented with knowledge but instead to find our peace in our guilt being removed as only the Holy Spirit can do through conviction that leads to repentance.