Here’s a true line we can all identify with on a fine Friday: “There’s a war between guilt and grace, and they’re fighting for a sacred space”. If we are not living right and we have guilt it is a good thing because hopefully it will transition into godly sorrow and repentance and forgiveness of sin from God’s grace.

On the other hand, a mighty tool of Satan is to put guilt in the minds of the forgiven when we should be focused on God’s grace as we walk in the light and are being washed spiritually clean by the blood of the Lamb. We just have to do some self-examination and decide which one it is. The apostle Paul sheds light on sin, forgiveness, grace, and faith in I Timothy 1:12-17. Also, read I John 3:19-24. Then listen to Grace Wins by Matthew West.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was previously 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. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 John 3:19-24

We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will set our heart at ease before Him, that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.