Finding Christian Joy Through Dealing With Guilt
Having the joy of the Lord depends upon clearing out the debris that defiles an organ we seldom consider.
Our physical health—other factors being equal—depends on a balance of nutritious food, exercise, and a healthy mental attitude. Doctors monitor our hearts, lungs, and other organs to maintain health. For deficiencies they prescribe medicines or perform operations. But there is an organ in the body that they don’t treat—indeed many have no idea it exists. And yet it is an organ that powerfully affects our mental attitudes. The conscience.
Paul explains that even those who have no conscious commitment to God’s law, “do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their conscience also now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14,15).
This organ innately knows that gossip, lying, stealing, murder, and adultery, for example, are wrong. And when we act and think contrary to what is good and true, our conscience plagues us. Joy disappears. If we would know joy, we must get rid of those guilty feelings that trouble our psyche.
Once we are aware of this problem, we can try to stop the nagging of conscience in several ways. Many religions teach us that if we do good, or bring offerings to our god, or keep the month of fast and say our prayers, the voice of the conscience will be stilled. Converted Muslims know this doesn’t work as do converted Hindus. Even a professing Christian like Martin Luther found out that going up a series of stairs on his knees while reciting the rosary didn’t work. Hebrews explains that worship that involves, “gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper” (Hebrews 9:9). No religious ritual can still the conscience’s cry, “guilty, guilty!”
Others seek to smother the voice of the conscience by doing evil until the guilty whispers are silenced. Paul talks of this often. “To those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, their minds and consciences are corrupted [even though they claim to know God]. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:15). He writes of some teachers having “consciences as seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:2). In another place, Paul talks about consciences being defiled through a repetitious commitment to idolatry or religious rituals. (1 Cor., 8:7) Still others have shipwrecked their conscience through rejecting the offer of the gospel. (1 Tim. 1:19)
What then can we do to clear the conscience and open the door to a life of joy? One thing only. Confession of our sins and faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. “The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God [will] cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God!” (Heb. 9:14).
The whole purpose of Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter—the incarnation of Christ—is to cleanse our consciences so we can live joyful lives of service to our living God! The blood of Christ alone atones for guilt. Jesus came and died for you and me that we might flourish, joyfully! He alone can silence the conscience.
If we would know joy, we need to continually celebrate what Christ has done. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1,2). (See also Rom 8:1,2)
Through faith in the blood of Christ, we are justified, forgiven, and headed for heaven! Joy doesn’t come from what we have done but only from what Christ has done. Don’t look anywhere else. Celebrate Him and know joy. No wonder John Newton, buried under guilt as a slave trader wrote, Amazing Grace.
But what about when we stumble and sin again? We will sin again; we still have a fallen nature in us. When we sin, our conscience becomes defiled again. Paul writes, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (Acts. 24:16). How do we keep it clear? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). As soon as we are aware of our sin, we should immediately confess it to God. And marvel of marvels, he gives us immediate and complete forgiveness based on the blood he shed for us! Our joy is restored. A joyful life is a forgiven life. A joyful life is a life that celebrates grace, amazing grace. A joyful life is a growing life.
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