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Romans 7:15 (NKJV)
For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
In the above verse, the Apostle Paul was talking about the war that happens within us. That is, knowing what is good and right to do, but yet doing the opposite. When this happens, we can fall prey to feelings of guilt over our actions. While not always, guilt over what we have done, whether to ourselves or to others, can make us think that there is no way that God could still love us. Where guilt over our actions causes us to turn away from God, instead of running to God and asking for mercy.
Psalm 51:1-2 (NKJV) states: Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
In Psalm 51:1-2 David was crying out to God for mercy. Why? David was visited by Prophet Nathan and was confronted with the reality that God was well aware of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband to cover up his sin. It is hard to believe that this is David. The one who in Acts 13:22 (NKJV) was described by God as: a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.
Given what David had done, it seems reasonable for him to allow guilt over his actions to turn him away from God. But David knew God. And what David knew of God led him to turn to God. David poured out his heart to the Lord and confessed his sin. In turn, he received God’s forgiveness. David was free once again to enjoy the closeness of his relationship with God.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) states: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We have to understand that God’s love for us is a love so vast that we could never fully comprehend it. More than this, we did not have to do anything to earn God’s love. As Romans 5:8 tells us, when we were living lives away from God, Christ paid the ultimate price and gave His life to save us. Jesus’ sacrifice gave us access to God. As a result, we can come to God even when we feel unworthy. Romans 8:1 (NKJV) tells us: 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.
On our own, there is just no way we could consistently do what is right and good. Even more, there is just no way that we could consistently do what pleases and honors God. For this reason, we have the Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit can help us to live daily in the freedom that Jesus died for us to have.
The Holy Spirit can help us by transforming our hearts where, out of our love for God, we consistently do what we should to nurture our relationship with God. Where our hearts are continually longing to do what God desires. Where our hearts are continually longing to draw close to God. Where our hearts know that with God is where we should be.
Psalm 145:18 (NKJV) states: The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
