To keep stepping upward and forward in the Kingdom of light, the Holy Spirit tells us we must faithfully embrace the mysteries of faith while keeping a clean conscience. Regarding Timothy’s ministry Paul taught him, “You must continue to use your prophecies as weapons as you wage spiritual warfare by faith and with a clean conscience” (1Timothy 1:19). Those who are God lovers are told to draw near to Jesus, our great High Priest, with sincere hearts, while having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty conscience (Hebrews10:22). The Truth proclaims to continue moving forward in the Kingdom it is vitally necessary that we are free from a guilty conscience. But we must understand there are two kinds of guilt: true guilt and false guilt.
False guilt comes from Satan – the false accuser and condemner of the brethren (Rev.12:10). The purpose of Satan’s accusations is to tear you down, while tormenting you about how horrible and a wretched person you are. He wants you to focus on your failures, so you will struggle and fail in your own power to overcome, while feeling hopeless and defeated. But the Word of Truth is alive and proclaims, “There is therefore now no condemnation, to them that are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Satan wants you to forget the forgiveness and the power of the grace Jesus Christ offers to all who turn to Him for help.
There are times that we all fall short and are guilty. The Word states, “If we boast that we have no sin, we’re only fooling ourselves and are strangers to the Truth. But if we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we claim that we’re not guilty of sin when God uncovers it with his light we make him a liar and his word is not in us”(1John1:8-10). We must walk in the light with and open heart and be transparent with God. Confessing our sin cleanses our conscience and removes every obstacle that attempts to hold us back in the Kingdom. Confession does not gain God’s acceptance, for that was bought for a great price on Calvary’s cross, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin, but confession acknowledges God’s desire, willingness, and faithfulness to restore our close intimacy with Him. Every time we fall short the grace and mercy of Christ’s forgiveness is an open offering for us to walk in the freedom of Christ’s love!
“Whenever our hearts make us feel guilty and remind us of our failures, we know that God is much greater and more merciful than our conscience, and he knows everything there is to know about us. My delightfully loved friends, when our hearts don’t condemn us, we have a bold freedom to speak face-to-face with God. And whatever we ask of him we receive, because we observe his suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us, and practice what is pleasing to him. By our beautiful intentions we continue to do what brings pleasure to him” (1John3:20-22). He looks beyond the sin of a moment and sees the holy affections of love in those who refuse to turn away from Him. His grace is greater than all our sin!
