Guilt is a cage that enslaves many. Something happened in their lives and they cannot get through it. Guilt is an alarm clock of the soul. The problem is that despite being forgiven by God they are still hounded by their guilt. This guilt can be used by the Devil. You have been forgiven but you are unable to forgive yourself. They would be set free if they could forgive themselves. If you don’t deal with guilt, the guilt will deal with you

1 – The reality of forgiven sins (vs. 49)

Who is this who forgives sins? His name is Jesus. He is the Saviour of the world. Your sins have been really forgiven.

• We have a Saviour who favours sinners. Jesus was called “a friend of publicans and sinners”. (See vs. 39-40). Jesus knew this woman was a sinner. He is a Saviour who favours sinners. See Luke 5:31-32 & Matthew 1:21.
• We have a Saviour who forgives sinners. (vs. 47). Her sins were many – they were forgiven. Every single one! He did not forget any. They are not hiding in a closet somewhere. It was not “some” sin it was all sin. What a Saviour! Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

2 – The anxiety of former sins (vs. 50)

Christ had a word for her about her former sins. She was to “go in peace”. These three words are often forgotten about. Her sins were many but now she is forgiven. She is to go in peace. She is forget the past. She did not need to walk around in shame. If Jesus has forgiven you it does not matter what anyone else says! We are to go in peace. We are not dirty, defiled, deprived, soiled or whatever. Do not be anxious about former sins.

We are bothered by past sins. We are to go in peace. Guilt lurks in the shadows of our lives. The bones of the old sins keep rattling in the cupboard. They come back to haunt us. You have been forgiven. You are not to keep walking in sin. If you are living in sin then you will feel guilty. If you walking with God, then you know you are forgiven. Satan wants you to have guilt about your past sins.

Many people do not forgive themselves because they are angry about what they have done. Sometimes it is fear. Sometimes it is pride. You have to help God. God does not need our help for forgiveness! Grace is unmerited favour. You do not deserve it anyway! Go in peace!

Some people are bound by past sins. Guilt can keep you enslaved and prevent you from moving forward. Do you go light on your child because you did it when you were young? You need to make sure your child does not make the same mistakes. You need to do what is right. You are to go in peace. There is no such thing as being “more saved” than another. Nobody is washed any cleaner than you. Don’t be bothered by your past sins. Can you forgive yourself? Go in peace!

3 – The tranquillity of forgotten sin

My sins are not just forgotten by God but forgotten by me. We are to go in peace. Jesus gave her the assurance of forgiven sins and the acceptance of forgotten sins. God has forgotten your sin. Just accept it! Can you not accept something you don’t understand? There are lots of things we do not understand but we accept. I don’t understand the genetic makeup of the body but I accept it. I don’t understand electricity but I accept it. I don’t understand how a plane flies but I accept it.

See Hebrews 8:12 & Hebrews 10:17. God has stopped remembering about your sins. It is time for you to stop remembering and go in peace. Forgive yourself for your mistakes, get a life and move on. God says “GO in Peace”. Here are some things you need to do now:-

• You have to attack your past with prayer. Don’t wallow in it.
• See yourself the way God sees you. God sees you white as snow. God has wiped your slate clean.
• Forget what God has forgotten. You only have one judge. It is not your wife or husband or anyone else. If God is not thinking about it why are you thinking about it?
• Stop keeping a record of your own wrongs. Don’t let Satan ruin your thought life. Don’t let Satan dwell in your mind. Kick him out and send his luggage with him! Fight back against Satan. God is on your side.
• Get up every morning and praise God. Thank God for setting you free. You have been forgiven!

Categories: Luke