Finally! We are beginning Chapter 3 - “The Platform of Grace”
Since we are now joined to Christ,
we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—
the total cancellation of our sins—
all because of the cascading riches of his grace.
Ephesians 1:7 TPT
I would beat myself up. Yes, I did. Yes, siree-bob I did.
No not with a whip or scourge, but in my head. Taunting, tormenting words clouded my thoughts every time I tripped up in life – which seemed to me, copious amounts of times every single day.
Why did I say that!!?
Why did I do that again!!?”
Why can’t I get past this!!?”
I vowed I wouldn’t do that, and here I have failed again!!?
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Lord!”
I have participated in enough pastoral counseling sessions through the years to know that I am not the only one who has had these conversations play out in their mind. Both men and women have told me they hear this same haranguing voice in their heads, beating themselves up with – guilt.
Oh yes, guilt! That feeling of never measuring up, failing, and being a disappointment to myself, to others, and most of all, to the Lord Jesus. The guilt that seemed to roar louder in my head than the truth of God’s grace. That black cloud that never hovered too far from my thoughts, pouring down a deluge of tyranny every time I stumbled. Not only when I fell into habits and behaviors unbecoming a Christian, but anytime I perceived that I had appeared less-than or foolish to others. You too?
Guilt. The whip that has driven so many away from faith because the torture of not measuring up to snuff is too heavy a load for a soul to carry.
Guilt. The driving force of religion and religious legalism to keep folks in line, under control, and manipulated.
Guilt. The shame that keeps on giving, declaring, “You will never be good enough or get life figured out, so why bother?”
Guilt. The dreaded emotion Paul talked about when he didn’t do what he should and did do what he shouldn’t have.
Yes, Paul recognized that guilt-whip himself. The darkness of unconquerable struggle within the human soul. He cried . . .
Oh, wretched man that I am![i]
Yet from Paul’s desperate cry, he moves us immediately toward the first step of finding freedom, not only from guilt itself, but from the very habits and traits that start the avalanche of guilt’s torment. In the very next verses in his letter to the Romans he shares with us:
I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 7:25, 8:1
Paul directs us toward one of the most important avenues to experiencing God’s grace in the dark and the power of His amazing grace to walk out of the dark into His light.
[i] Romans 7:24