Sermon 28 "Spiritual Combat Against Guilt and Regret"

One of your biggest enemies in the Christian life is guilt.

You know your sins have been forgiven, but they may still haunt you. You suddenly remember some stupid thing you said or some terrible thing you did. Regret and shame sweep over you. Remorse and self-loathing overwhelm you.

"How could I have been so sinful?" you sigh in deep humiliation. "Why did I do that? What was wrong with me?" you demand harshly from yourself.

Do you fear you may do things in the future that are just as idiotic, selfish, or vile? What are you doing spiritually to fortify yourself so that you will not fall into those old temptations and errors?

Is self-condemnation an objective reflection on our past? Can it keep us humble and on guard? Or is it just a worthless distraction, robbing us of joy, peace, and power?

What does God's Word say about feeling bad about ourselves after our sins have been forgiven? What can we do to prevent our past from haunting and tormenting us?