“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Galatians 3:11
Do you ever struggle with guilt over sins you’ve committed or your failure to do what is right? Have you felt shame related to your past or present? Does your inability to “measure up” depress you? Many Christians wrestle with these types of feelings.
These thoughts of guilt, shame, and failure can make us feel like a hostage, trapped in a vicious cycle of sin and shame that frustrates and discourages. If this is you today, Jesus invites you to look to Him for relief from your burden of guilt.
When sin entered our world, the burden of guilt and shame came in like a flood (Genesis 3:6-10). No amount of good works or right behavior on man’s part could make things right again, but God devised a way for us (2 Samuel 14:14, John 14:6) through His Son Jesus (John 3:16, Romans 5:19).
If you put your faith in Jesus then God declares you, “Not guilty!” based on what Christ did for you through His perfect life, atoning death and triumphant resurrection (Romans 4:25, Romans 5:9). You are justified by grace (Titus 3:7; Romans 4:2–5), through faith (Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1), because of Jesus (Romans 5:16; Galatians 2:16–17).
As your representative, Jesus lived perfectly—never sinning, always doing the will of the Father, never falling short, continuously measuring up. And by grace, Jesus’ perfect life has been credited to you. Jesus has earned eternal life and acceptance for you. When God looks at you, He sees the perfect righteousness that Jesus has given to you. You are not guilty, Jesus took that burden on Himself for you; now you are righteous because God has declared it so (2 Corinthians 5:21).
When Jesus died on the cross, He took on all your sins (past, present, and future). Those sins are no longer yours; He has taken them from you so that you can be free from them and the guilt and shame that came with them (1 Peter 2:24). Now, there is no condemnation for you because Jesus was condemned in your place! (Romans 8:1). There is no punishment for you because Jesus has taken it on your behalf (Isaiah 53:5). You are free from your burden of guilt and free to live a life of joy in Jesus!