guilt – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:53:09 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-LaVistaBanner-Copy-1-32x32.png guilt – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms 32 32 157465916 Uncovering Guilt https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/uncovering-guilt/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:53:09 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=94353

by Zeke Flores

In Genesis 44:16, Judah says, "God has uncovered your servants' guilt." He isn’t referring to the silver cup. He’s referring to the sin they committed against Joseph years earlier. Judah recognizes that God is bringing hidden things into the open.

This is a significant moment in the brothers’ spiritual journey. They finally stop blaming circumstances and acknowledge their moral responsibility. God often works this way. He brings truth to the surface so that healing can begin.

This teaches us that confession is not merely admitting wrongdoing. It is aligning ourselves with God’s perspective. When Judah acknowledges guilt, he is stepping into honesty, humility, and readiness for transformation.

If God is surfacing something in your life — a pattern, a wound, a sin — don’t resist it. He reveals it in order to redeem. Honesty is where healing begins.

]]> 94353 Guilty Consciences https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/guilty-consciences/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:45:15 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=94340

by Zeke Flores

In Genesis 42:21-22, Joseph's brothers say, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother." Their guilt surfaces immediately when trouble hits. This reveals a deep truth about the human conscience: God has woven moral awareness into us. Even when people try to bury their wrongdoing, the conscience remains active.

The brothers had carried their secret for decades, but time didn’t erase it, and success didn’t silence it. Their conscience awakened the moment pressure came. This is not cruelty from God. It is for mercy, not condemnation. God often brings conviction to lead us toward repentance and restoration.

This passage reminds us that unresolved sin doesn’t simply fade. It lingers until it is brought into the light. God uses conviction not to crush us but to heal us.

If something in your life keeps resurfacing, a regret, a wrong, a wound, don’t ignore it. Bring it before God. Confession is the path to freedom, and God is eager to restore what guilt has weighed down.

]]> 94340 Our Desire to Avoid Blame https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/our-desire-to-avoid-blame/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:00:53 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=94037

by Gary Henry

"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours'" (Matthew 25:24-25).

Having erred, we can be quite creative in coming up with excuses. Rather than face the facts head-on, we dodge the truth. Not only in speaking to others but even in our minds, we do our best to minimize the seriousness of our misdeeds.

In the Parable of the Talents, the man who mismanaged the money entrusted to him by his master tried to make it look as if he had just been playing it safe. The master was not fooled; he charged him with being a “wicked and lazy servant” (Matthew 25:26).

Psychologically, we all have a need to see ourselves in a positive light. We spend a good bit of our time in life building a positive self-image. And when that self-image is threatened by sin in our lives, we do everything we can, like a good PR agent, to “spin” the facts in our favor. In the private ruminations of our minds, we indulge in rationalization and self-justification. Even in the words we use, we describe our sins as “mistakes” and our sinful character traits as mere “foibles.” But who are we trying to convince? Probably ourselves. We’re trying to repair our bruised self-image for our own comfort.

This wouldn’t be so bad if it moved us to improve our character and to start living better. God would be pleased with that result. Too often, however, it is the devil who is pleased. Having gained a victory, he gets extra mileage out of our sin by getting us to concentrate on self-justification rather than repentance.

What would be a better path to follow? Many suggestions could be made, but consider the following.

  1. We can prioritize self-improvement over self-justification. Seeing ourselves as we are, without excuses, is the first step in becoming more than we are.
  2. We can study what the Scriptures teach about godly sorrow and repentance (II Corinthians 7:9-11). If we neglect these subjects, we put our salvation in jeopardy (Revelation 2:5).
  3. In our prayer life can spend more time seeking self-honesty. If we pray sincerely about this, our Father will gladly help us acquire the honesty and openness that were of such benefit to David (Psalms 19:12-14; 139:23-24).

"O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself" (Augustine of Hippo).

]]> 94037 I Struggle with Sin. Am I a Bad Christian? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/i-struggle-with-sin-am-i-a-bad-christian/ Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:02:55 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=91265

by Mark McCrary

Every honest Christian knows this question: “I’m struggling with sin. Does that make me a bad Christian?”

The Bible doesn’t brush this concern aside. In fact, it describes exactly that tension between God’s call to holiness and our ongoing battle with sin. On one hand, God says, “Be holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:16). That’s the standard—absolute purity, no sin. But then I John 1:8 reminds us, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” It’s in the middle of these two truths that our everyday lives take place.

Our goal is not to sin—John goes on to say, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin” (I John 2:1)—but he immediately adds, “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” In other words, sin is still real, but because of Christ, it’s no longer our master.

You Don’t Have to Sin Anymore

Romans 6 makes that crystal clear. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, believers have been set free from sin’s dominion. Paul writes, “Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Yes, you will sin (I John 1:8), but you don’t have to keep sinning. You are no longer chained to your old desires. Christ has freed you from the bondage of sin. Because of Christ, when you sin, you can stop. You can walk away.

Paul reminds us that faithfulness is part of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. You don’t struggle alone. As John promised, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4).

That’s why the keyword in this question—“I struggle with sin”—is so important.

Struggle Means You’re Fighting

There’s an old preacher’s story about a young man who confessed, “I’m struggling with pornography.”

The preacher asked, “How often do you look at it?”

“About ten times a day,” the young man answered.

The preacher paused, then said gently, “That doesn’t sound much like a struggle.”

He wasn’t trying to be cruel—just to make an important point: the word struggle demands we fight back. We hate what’s wrong. We repent when we fall. We don’t want to live in sin. Paul puts it this way, “Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you” (Colossians 3:5). You declared war on sin when you were baptized into Christ. You committed to holy living. But it isn’t a “one and done” thing. Following Christ is a commitment to fight that war every single day you live.

When Guilt Is a Good Thing

The reality is that the person who doesn’t struggle isn’t doing well. If sin doesn’t bother us, something’s wrong. The absence of struggle usually means the absence of caring—and that’s a huge problem.

But when sin does grieve you—when you feel that pang of conviction after you fall—that’s actually evidence of life. Paul calls it “godly sorrow” and says it “produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret” (II Corinthians 7:10). That sorrow isn’t meant to crush you—it’s meant to drive you to Christ. Guilt without grace leads to despair; guilt that turns to Jesus leads to growth.

There’s Good News

If you’re struggling with sin—bothered by it, fighting it—that’s not a sign you’re a bad Christian. It’s a sign you’re alive in the fight.

Take heart: the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in you (Romans 8:11).

The more you grow, the more you’ll see progress. Temptations that once owned you will lose their hold. Sin’s voice will grow weaker, and the Spirit’s voice stronger. You will become more like Christ—not overnight, but over time.

But remember: there has to be fruit. People who live in continual guilt without change aren’t repenting. Real repentance is more than acknowledging sin—it’s a genuine effort to change. God wants you to overcome sin, not be overcome with sorrow (II Corinthians 2:7).

So no, struggling with sin doesn’t make you a bad Christian. Giving up the struggle would.

So, beloved, keep fighting. Keep repenting. Keep trusting Jesus.

He’s not ashamed of the Christian who struggles—He’s there to help them stand.

]]> 91265 Condemnation or Conviction? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/condemnation-or-conviction/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:34:48 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=86658

by Zeke Flores

To many, "conviction" is the same as "condemnation," and most of us familiar with condemnation don't like it much.

You know, the (not so) subtle voice that hisses,

  • "You're not good enough!"
  • "You're a failure!"
  • "It's too late for you, there's no hope because you'll never change!"

Our evil enemy— and sometimes even well-meaning but misdirected people —can heap condemnation on us, leaving us to think that perhaps the words are true: I am a failure, and there is no hope.

Don’t confuse the condemnation by the enemy with the conviction by the Spirit of God. Condemnation dooms us while leaving no door open for improvement. But the conviction of the Spirit, while giving a true assessment of your status before God, offers hope for climbing out of the pit of despair and reaching new and better heights.

But you’ve got to start somewhere.

The place to start is to realize where you are (or aren’t) in your relationship with your Maker. Reading God’s word, the instrument of conviction, will sometimes sting. The gospel doesn’t always drip sunshine and warm fuzzies. It gives a truthful appraisal of your condition. Yes, you’re a sinner. Yes, you deserve judgment. It’s important to feel the weight of our sin and hopelessness without Christ. But the Spirit doesn’t end there.

The gospel is “good news” because it tells us there is help. It reminds us of our utter need for a Savior and the fact that He has come. Yes, you’re a sinner, but you don’t have to stay that way. You start with genuine remorse for your sins, which have caused estrangement from God, then resolve, with the Spirit’s help, to do something about it. And the Spirit of God doesn’t disappoint. Armed with your conviction and His revelation of God’s intention for you, you can begin to make the hard adjustments in your life that will bring you into a full relationship with the One who gave His Son for you.

Condemnation says, "You're too far gone and there's nothing better for you!"
Conviction says, "You've made a mess of things, but I've gotten help."

While it may be painful to realize the weight of sin, without it, you can’t rise above. You’ve got to start somewhere.

"And He (the Holy Spirit), when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8).

]]> 86658 Did I do something wrong? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/did-i-do-something-wrong/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:39:41 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=70138

Question:

Hello! I have a question for you guys: Does having sex with someone makes you a married couple? If not, then am I obligated to marry the man I had sex with?

I have a doubt in my heart that's been tormenting me. I had sex with some guys before getting married. I was already a Christian, but I was astray for years. At the moment, I didn't think it would be serious, and I slept with several of my boyfriends, one of them I lived with for a while, off and on. I didn't want to marry him as he was abusive to me. After that, I met my now husband, and we married.

Did I do something wrong? Did I have to marry the man I used to live with? Is my current marriage sinful?

I've been married for many years, and this doubt in my head is killing me. Do I have to leave my husband and remain alone for the rest of my life? Please help me! This is tormenting me, and I don't want to end up in hell.

Answer:

Does having sex create a marriage? The short answer is "no." See:

Did you do something wrong? Yes. You claimed to be a Christian while living a worldly life and repeatedly committed fornication. I gather you now realize that you were wrong and have changed. Being a Christian is about becoming a better person suitable for serving God (II Corinthians 7:9-11).

Do you have to marry the person you sinned with? No. However, notice that this also means your fornication was animalistic. Too often, people excuse their fornication by claiming that they will eventually marry, but you were having sex with guys who were not good people and whom you didn't desire to be married to.

Is your current marriage sinful? Nothing you've mentioned indicate that your current marriage is wrong.

]]> 70138 Feeling Guilt https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/feeling-guilt/ Sun, 18 Aug 2024 20:18:35 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=69363

by Raymond Warfel

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]]> 69363 My Sin Is Always Before Me (Sermon) https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/my-sin-is-always-before-me/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 01:01:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=53692
Download Audio

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Ezra 9

 

I.         God is Holy, but we fall short

            A.        Sin is a not a part of the nature of God - I John 1:5

            B.        To be in fellowship with God, we also must without sin - I John 1:6-7

                        1.         But notice that God is not expecting perfection from us

                        2.         Provision is made for when we sin to be cleansed from those sins

                        3.         What God wants from us is to walk in righteousness

            C.        Sin is going to happen - I John 1:8-10

                        1.         We have to be honest that we do fail and are not perfect

                        2.         We have to admit before God that we sin

                        3.         Only by acknowledging that we are not holy can we be welcomed back

            D.        This is not an excuse - I John 2:1-6

                        1.         John is encouraging us to avoid sin, but to also know that when we do sin, it is not the end

                        2.         Jesus paid for our sins and is our advocate before God

                        3.         But if we are going to claim we know God, we must keep His commandments

II.        Ezra was upset by the sins of his countrymen

            A.        Israel was sent into captivity because of their sins - Ezra 9:7

                        1.         A great many revolved around their worship of idols - II Kings 17:7-23

                        2.         But what did the Israelites do when they returned from captivity? They married into families of idolaters! - Ezra 9:10-14

            B.        It was too much to face - Ezra 9:6

            C.        But the Israelites with Ezra agreed that they were wrong - Ezra 10:1-3

            D.        And the answer? Be courageous and act! - Ezra 10:4

III.       David, a king who sincerely loved God committed adultery and tried to cover it up with murder

            A.        David pleaded with God to cleanse him, but he was haunted by what he had done - Psalms 51:1-3

            B.        Satan plays on our guilt, chaining us down until we want to just give up.

                        1.         We can't face our friends, our family, our loved ones at church -- we can't face ourselves.

                        2.         We judge ourselves harsher than anyone else, including God, and declare we aren't worthy.

            C.        David asked for both a clean heart and a renewed steadfast spirit - Psalms 51:10

                        1.         He needed forgiveness and confidence to go forward - Psalms 51:12

                        2.         Then he would be able to act. Then he could teach others - Psalms 51:13

                        3.         Not only would David be restored, but David saw that all sinners could be changed.

IV.      Behind it all is this one grain of truth: guilt holds us back because we are afraid.

            A.        Have you ever thought why among all the deep dark sins, God listed "the cowardly" first in Revelation 21:8?

            B.        Cowardice sends more people to hell than any other sin.

            C.        Cowardice keeps us from acting - Joshua 1:6-9

V.        Your God, your family, your friends, your fellow Christians, we all love you.

            A.        Peter said, love will cover a multitude of sins - I Peter 4:8

                        1.         It is not hiding your sins while you remain in them.

                        2.         It is a burying of the past, so you can move forward - Philippians 3:12-14

            B.        And our shovels are at the ready to bury the past when any sinner comes back to us.

]]> 53692 I fear people will judge me because of my sinful past https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/i-fear-people-will-judge-me-because-of-my-sinful-past/ Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:40:41 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=67804

Question:

Hi,

I was backsliding in my teenage and youthful days. I was in a relationship with a Christian, but now, I am married to another girl. I didn't attend the church services regularly for years due to some issues. I feel guilty for missing the fellowship and because of the sins of my younger days. I cannot face people because I feel that people may judge me. I also fear for my future. I am unable to proceed further because I failed in my career, spiritual life, and relationship. These guilty feelings haunt me, causing anxiety and depression. I cannot forgive myself for my past sinful behavior when I wasted time with wrong things and people.

Please guide me.

Answer:

You fear other people will judge you in the same way that you have judged yourself. Not that it has happened; you only imagine how people will treat you. Yet, many Christians have pasts that we are not proud of. After listing numerous sins that will keep people out of heaven, Paul said, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:11). Paul, himself, had a past.

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life" (I Timothy 1:12-16).

Christianity is not about our pasts. It is about who we are are where we are going. "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). You can either let the fears of your imagination ruin your life, or you can submit yourself to the Lord, who loves you and can save you from your sins. You know you don't deserve his favor -- none of us do -- but you can appreciate his offer of grace. In doing so, you can join the brethren who are in the same sort of situation -- forgiven of past wrongs and loved by God. After all, it has never been about whether you can forgive yourself but whether God forgives you. You can't put yourself into Heaven, but God can.

]]> 67804 I’m feeling extreme guilt https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/im-feeling-extreme-guilt/ Sat, 05 Mar 2022 17:14:47 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=44086

Question:

I feel extreme guilt for past sins. Sins that most would count as minor. Breaking the law whether intentional or not … not confessing to things I know about from years ago, breaking rules at home, work, friendship-wise, etc. It’s the wee hours of the morning, and I feel terrible thinking how horrible of a person I am. I feel like I can’t be saved until I confess every crime, rule, and vow I’ve broken or committed. I just feel like, how can I be saved if I’m a sinner without eating my salvation first.

Answer:

"I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter" (II Corinthians 7:9-11).

Sorrow and guilt are not bad things, but if you simply sit there and wallow in them then they are unproductive and destructive.

Notice what you are doing. You've set up for yourself an impossible task -- one that is never asked for by God -- and then wallow in your misery that you can't accomplish what you made up. If you want freedom from sin, it is not through methods that you make up. You have to do it God's way because He alone can grant forgiveness.

Since you know you were bad in the past, change so that you are no longer that person. "But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 'Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,' declares the Lord GOD, 'rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?'" (Ezekiel 18:21-23).

As God told the Israelites:

"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it" (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

See:

Question:

I guess I just feel that sometimes I may not have anxiety. Maybe I’m just a bad person for not following the law perfectly. I compare myself to others and think “What would this person do? Maybe I’m the only one who has failed in this area.“ Then I see signs that say “It’s the LAW! If you know of anything now or from the past you MUST report.“ It feels like I’m in a constant state of sinning until I report to the law. I’m not a terrible person but I haven’t always done the right thing or have been a coward in the past. I don’t know how to let the guilt go. I think I have scrupulosity.

Thank you.

Answer:

Perhaps you do. There isn't enough here for me to decide. However, the fact is that no one is perfect. When you read the Bible you find every one of the major characters involved in sin at some point in their lives. The message of God isn't about whether you have sinned but whether you are willing to leave your sins behind. Look at Ezekiel 18:21-23 again.

Question:

Thank you.

What does it mean to leave sins behind?

  • If I broke the law and drank alcohol as a minor but stopped, did I still not break the law?
  • Or if I lied to my mother and never confessed to her but stopped lying, did I leave my sins behind?
  • If I witnessed a crime and was obligated to tell and didn’t, how do I leave my sins behind when I still never confessed to the crime I witnessed?

I guess my point is in all these is: Would leaving my sin behind require confessing first to sort of undo my wrong?

Answer:

There is an aspect of repentance where we try to minimize the harm caused by our sins. See What is repentance? Not everything is repairable, so let's look at your examples:

  • Drinking as a minor was wrong. The harm was to yourself -- that is why the law exists. You stopped and there isn't anything else necessary. There is no requirement to report yourself by the government or in the Bible.
  • Lying is wrong. If your mother is acting on something as if your lie was the truth, then you need to tell her so she doesn't harm herself because you lied to her. But if the lie is merely something forgotten in the past, then there is no need to bring it back up. If your mom ever tells you, "You're such an honest boy!" Then it would be appropriate to say, "I wasn't always honest with you. I've changed, but I regretted lying to you."
  • Not reporting a crime is something different. By not saying anything, you've allowed the criminals to escape and probably continue their life of crime. By not saying anything, you caused the victims not to receive justice. I don't know if you are talking about witnessing a bank robbery or a friend stealing a pencil. Here something might need to be done because a Christian is to be on the side of justice.

The point is that once you've changed, you need to stop fretting over the past. Do what needs to be done and then move on. The apostle Paul was once involved in murder, but he changed. He didn't spend his life trying to punish himself for his past. He sought to show gratitude to God by serving Him. "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all" (I Timothy 1:12-15).

Question:

I guess that last part about the crime one is what gets me. Because of my extreme thinking, I know some things aren’t major, but the thinking that my salvation is dependent on something or if I do or don’t do something is my fear.

Answer:

It seems to me that instead of fretting over the matter, make the changes necessary to be living according to God's Word.

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