TITLE: Guilt: Being released from the weight of sin

TEXT: Luke 7:36-50

THEME: God’s forgiveness motivates the believer to worship and obedience.

Luke 11:8

“I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

Importunity

The closest equivalent is our word “shameless”

Past views of Guilt and Shame

• A girl was expected to be modest in her dress and talk.

Past views of Guilt and Shame

• A girl was expected to be modest in her dress and talk.

• Blushing was a valued sign of healthy embarrassment

Past views of Guilt and Shame

• A girl was expected to be modest in her dress and talk.

• Blushing was a valued sign of healthy embarrassment.

• Chastity, where sex was expected to be avoided until marriage, was cherished

Past views of Guilt and Shame

• A girl was expected to be modest in her dress and talk.

• Blushing was a valued sign of healthy embarrassment.

• Chastity, where sex was expected to be avoided until marriage, was cherished.

• People were expected to feel guilt and remorse.

Past views of Guilt and Shame

• A girl was expected to be modest in her dress and talk.

• Blushing was a valued sign of healthy embarrassment.

• Chastity, where sex was expected to be avoided until marriage, was cherished.

• People were expected to feel guilt and remorse.• The phrase “shame on you” was a severe

admonition.

The place for “shame and guilt.”

• It can be a sign of a healthy sense of morality

The place for “shame and guilt.”

• It can be a sign of a healthy sense of morality.

• Like pain it tells us something is wrong and some remedy needs to be sought out

The place for “shame and guilt.”

• It can be a sign of a healthy sense of morality.

• Like pain it tells us something is wrong and some remedy needs to be sought out.

• The Bible says we are created in the image of God and with that we all have a built in sense of moral oughtness

The place for “shame and guilt.”

• It can be a sign of a healthy sense of morality. • Like pain it tells us something is wrong and

some remedy needs to be sought out. • The Bible says we are created in the image of

God and with that we all have a built in sense of moral oughtness.

• That’s why the tree was in the Garden of Eden- it was to test our moral aptitude and volition

The place for “shame and guilt.”

• It can be a sign of a healthy sense of morality. • Like pain it tells us something is wrong and some

remedy needs to be sought out. • The Bible says we are created in the image of God

and with that we all have a built in sense of moral oughtness.

• That’s why the tree was in the Garden of Eden- it was to test our moral aptitude and volition

• John 16:8 that the Spirit of God convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement

The real question is not, “How do we eliminate our emotional

feelings of guilt?” The question is “Once guilt and shame have done their job of exposing to us to the true nature of our sin how do we

move forward so they do not cripple us from finding true

contentment?

How can you find forgiveness from the guilt of your sin?

1. Acknowledge the one person who can forgive your sin. (36-38)

Luke 7:36-38

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume

Luke 7:36-38

38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

1. Acknowledge the one person who can forgive your sin. (36-38)

A. Only Jesus, as God, can forgive sin

1. Acknowledge the one person who can forgive your sin. (36-38)

A. Only Jesus, as God, can forgive sin

B. All sin is against God

Psalm 51

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

Michael Gerson Obituary on Charles Colson

Colson was "my greatest example of the transforming power of grace." And although Colson was "utterly consumed by his calling to serve prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families,"… "Chuck was possessed, not by some cause, but by someone. Many wondered at Chuck's sudden conversion to Christianity. He seemed to wonder at it himself. He spent each day that followed [his conversion], for nearly 40 years, dazzled by his own implausible redemption."

How can you find forgiveness from the guilt of your sin?

II. Acknowledge the magnitude and nature of your sin. (39-43)

Luke 7:39-43

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

Luke 7:39-43

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

II. Acknowledge the magnitude and nature of your sin. (39-43)

A. Others recognized her as a sinner.

Two problems regarding guilt:

We confuse real guilt verse felt guilt.

Two problems regarding guilt:

We confuse real guilt verse felt guilt.

1. We can have real guilt yet no feel it.

1 Timothy 4:2

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”

Romans 1:19-23

“19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Romans 1:19-23

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

Two problems regarding guilt: We confuse real guilt verse felt guilt.

1. We can have real guilt yet no feel it.

2. We can have felt guilt when we are really guilty.

II. Acknowledge the magnitude and nature of your sin. (39-43)

A. Others recognized her as a sinner.

B. Jesus recognized her as a sinner.

II. Acknowledge the magnitude and nature of your sin. (39-43)

A. Others recognized her as a sinner.

B. Jesus recognized her as a sinner.

C. She recognized herself as a sinner.

Psalm 22:

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

6 But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me;

they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

Psalm 22:

14 I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

it has melted within me.

15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

you lay me in the dust of death.

How can you find forgiveness from the guilt of your sin?

III. Demonstrate your love and gratitude to the one who has

forgiven you. (44-47)

Luke 7:44-47

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet

Luke 7:44-47

46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

III. Demonstrate your love and gratitude to the one who has

forgiven you. (44-47)

A. Your acts of worship reflect your heart.

III. Demonstrate your love and gratitude to the one who has

forgiven you. (44-47)

A. Your acts of worship reflect your heart.

B. The greater the forgiveness the greater the worship.

How can you find forgiveness from the guilt of your sin?

IV. Place your faith in Jesus. (48-50)

Luke 7:48-50

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

IV. Place your faith in Jesus. (48-50)

A. Jesus forgiveness demonstrates his deity

IV. Place your faith in Jesus. (48-50)

A. Jesus forgiveness demonstrates his deity

B. Compare Matthew 9:1-8

Matthew 9:1-8

1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts

Matthew 9:1-8

5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

APPLICATION

1. We need to understand that guilt can be a red light that something is wrong in our life.

APPLICATION

1. We need to understand that guilt can be a red light that something is wrong in our life.

2. Have you ignored the Holy Spirits conviction for so long that you no longer feel guilt- if so ask God to help you

APPLICATION

1. We need to understand that guilt can be a red light that something is wrong in our life.

2. Have you ignored the Holy Spirits conviction for so long that you no longer feel guilt- if so ask God to help you.

3. If your guilt is false- change your belief

APPLICATION

4. If your guilt is real then acknowledge the nature and magnitude of your sin and confess it before God. Accept his forgiveness of sin and find the freedom he gives from the oppressive feeling of guilt.

APPLICATION

4. If your guilt is real then acknowledge the nature and magnitude of your sin and confess it before God. Accept his forgiveness of sin and find the freedom he gives from the oppressive feeling of guilt.

5. Worship and praise him for what He has done.