Yes, this story was factual and historical, it actually happened, but we are instructed to view it as “symbolic of things to come.” Specifically during that time when “the Branch” (a reference to the then coming Messiah - see Isaiah 53:2 and Jeremiah 23:5) would, by the Lord Almighty, “remove the sin of this land in a single day.”
Friend, Jesus died on the cross and removed sin from the land in a single day. On that day, Jesus exchanged “clothes” with all who are called by God, with all whom He would snatch as a stick from the fire. He took our filthy clothes of sin and gave us His robe of righteousness. He took our sin, canceled our debt and disarmed the evil powers and authorities. Now, no accusations can stand against us. The devil's mouth has been shut, he has nothing to say, nothing with which to accuse you! There can be no condemnation for us! (Romans 8:1).
Friend, let this worship song of God’s truth wash over you and believe that you are not guilty anymore.
Question 5. What truth did that song speak to your heart just now? Please share your thoughts here:
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Harris writes, "That I am not guilty anymore. That I am forgiven and loved. Mercy is mine. God's mercy. I am so thankful to God."
David writes, "Christ did it. I'm clean, not guilty of what i have done."
Carnell writes, "I AM NOT GUILTY ANYMORE. I AM NOT FILTHY ANYMORE. I HAVE RECEIVED AN ABUNDANCE OF GRACE AND MERCY. I AM FORGIVEN AND LOVED. MERCY IS MINE"
Notice the truth of that song, and the truth that Joshua experienced, as stated in Romans 8:33-34:
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. (34) Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34 NIV
Question 6. According to Romans 8:33-34 who can bring any charges against you, and who is the only One Who can condemn you?
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David writes, "Only God can justify or condemn. But God has justified me by the work on the cross and the defeat of death by the resurrection of Christ."
Think of the logic of these verses for a moment. The only one who can bring any charges against you is God. But at the cross of Christ, God justified you. He won’t ever bring any charges against you because He has already justified you!
Then, the only one who can condemn you is Jesus Christ, the Judge of all the earth. But this Judge died for you and was raised to life to justify you, and now intercedes for you. He will never condemn you because He was condemned for you.
Do you see the glory of the gospel here? Only God could bring any charges against you and He has justified you. Only Christ could condemn you and He has died for you and rose to live for you.
What can Satan say? Nothing. He’s been disarmed and dismissed, silenced and triumphed over at the cross! Who can condemn you? No one!
When Satan reminds us of our past, we remember the cross of Christ. We preach to ourselves that the cross canceled our debt of sin, removed all guilt and triumphed over Satan.
At the cross, our filthy garments of sin were removed from us and we put on the “garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10) and are now clothed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Now Satan cannot say one word against us. As the words of this worship song says:
“I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds
For there I find salvation”
Let’s make this practical:
You’ve just received another invitation to go to a friend’s house for a meal whom you have not seen for quite a while. You have kept away from them as you were feeling too ashamed to tell them about your struggles and felt that they would not understand. You’re feeling disheartened, and guilty for not being a better friend to them.
In the past, you would have been so overcome with feelings of guilt and shame at failing to connect with others that you would have shut out the outside world. You would have accepted your feelings of guilt even though you know this only makes your situation worse.
But now, your heart has been opened to the truth of the gospel. Now you know that on the cross Jesus Christ became sin for you, assumed your guilt, took your shame and died your death. The truth comes to you, “I am no longer guilty! I have been set free! The punishment for my sins was on Jesus and now I have His peace". You keep looking at the blood of Jesus until you know how sufficient and effective it is to pardon all your sins, whiter than snow.
The love of Jesus begins to truly fill your heart and mind. You see Jesus dying on the cross and you can’t hardly take it in, and you know your guilt is gone. You don’t have accept and placate your guilt because you have no guilt.
You smile because you have a Savior, one who has died for you out of love. And you love Him back. You phone back the relative and connect with them and realise that they have been concerned about you and want to show you hospitality and not judgement. You win, and guilt and despair loses this battle!
Question 7. Did you identify in any way with this scenario? If not, please share a situation where you might experience guilt and show how applying the cross will bring a good outcome:
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