Freedom From Sin and Guilt

Let Freedom Reign 1 John 1 and 2 This is the message we have heardk from him and declare to you: God is light;l in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,m we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light,o as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from allb sin.If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sinss and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:5-9) The apostles John wrote the word of his book in a time when things were in an uproar in the church.Just as I believe there is an uproar in the church today, some of the same things are happening today, because it is getting very close to the return of Christ and many people are living on the edge, and are beginning to wonder if they are going to be ready or not. As back then so there is today We need to correct the misunderstandings of the gospel, including who is truly a part of the church as well as a broad range of misunderstandings of what God’s grace really means. God's grace cannot cover blatent sin, if its confessed and then the individual that confessed, just continues on living in that sin. Jesus Himself told the woman caught in adultry, GO AND SIN NO MORE." Thats how we know we have truely confessed the sin we have been committing. If there are no changed fruits, there are not hchanged hearts and there is no freedom. In Johns first letter in 1,2 and 3rd John, he addresses the church that was openly tolerated worldly sin while still claiming one could be in fellowship with Jesus. (Romans 6:1-2) John slams the door on that, he saying that only those who “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7) have a true relationship with God. But listen, I know that does not mean believers in Christ don’t sin (v. 8). Instead, it means that because of their relationship with God, they can confess their sin and enjoy both forgiveness and fellowship no matter how heavy the burden of regret (v. 9). That is true, but this does not give us a liecens to sin. Read (Romans 6:1-2) again Friends, I encourage you, to make a point of getting rid of any crushing weight of guilt or shame that may be weighing you down. I know I carried mine away to long. If you are being convicted of a sin, by the Holy Spirit, you do not have to carry that heavy burden Oh the responsibility to confess the sin and give the burden away is yours, no body is gojng to just take it from you. First, there is (1 John 1:9) that tells us how to begin the process to freedom. God does forgive, and our sin is forgiven and God remembers it no more. Hebrews 8:12, Hebrews 10:17, Isaiah 43:25, Micah 7:19, Psalm 103:12 Friends listen,if after confession the guilt continues to hang over your head, it is a good idea to seek help, because there are safe, confidential, and judgment-free people ready to help. Whether you need a listening ear, spiritual guidance, like your pastor or Chrostian counsellors. I know because I have gone to them, and it has helped.. At one of my lowest times on this topic of confessed and forgotten sin, I went to a couple of my Christian mentors and after much prayer, I was able to be released from the guilt hanging over my hean and I knew I had been set free. So I encourage you today, If you are feeling gult of sin, or false guilt of sin, and it has become a weight on your back, I know speaking with a trusted pastor, a church elder, faithful trusted friend, can often provide relief through confession and sharing that burden with someone else. And the results can lead to freedom. So, I am asking you today, to stop and to see if there is anything in your life that is putting you in prison while your free. Are there regrets in your life that feel like a heavy weight around your neck? I know all of us have things we have done and words we have said that we wish we could take them back. I also know that at times it feels like we’re cursed and we should have to carry the weight of our guilt and regret forever, but that is not God's plan. MY friends it's God's plan, God’s grace can and will free our hearts from the most painful regret. We all have sinned (1 John 1:8, 10), but when we are truly sorry and we repent of those sins and confess our burdens to God, He has promised he “will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (v. 9). At that moment God's grace rushes in and cases those sins, those burdens into the deepest sea, as far as the east is from the west. My friends they are gone anfd you will be free. That is when His light and love can flow through us (2:10), freeing us to love those around us (3:14). That is the only way we can fulfill the love we read about in 1 Corinthians 13. Pray with me this morning, using words from your heart, not my words but youra. Father God I want to bring to you this waeight this burden, I have been carrying around my neck, on my back, dragging them behind me. Father God, this morning, I want to accept you grace and have this guilt lifted, and I want to be set free. God, thank You that this guilt I have been carrying doesn’t exclude me from experiencing Your beauty and grace. Thank you for freedom in Christ and in Your love today. Lord, take my burden today and set me free, I release it into your hands. It is in Jesus name I pray AMEN.