From Guilt to the Throne

Guilt or Throne?

spiritual, mental hygiene, mutual need, purification, confidence, etc.

This article is part of the "Vitalize" pack

Dear saints and beloved!

I recently visited a church which has a beautiful family life but suffers from a typical 21 century sickness. The guilt.
Interestingly, leaders have told me that members are not as eager to come and get their lives back on track when they commit sins. They simply do not confess them openly.
Since it is pastoral responsibility first - I really don't understand, why...

The place we came from

I believe that guilt is one of the most serious attacks on the humankind.
People, nations can do "amazing" things to get rid of guilt. They walk thousands of miles, they squeeze themselves, they oppress themselves and unfortunately they oppress others just to see their own lives as superior and better. In fact, we see whole networks promising "grace" without any chance of conversion and repentance, thus burying themselves in the quicksand of sin and guilt.
Religious people kill members of other religions because they are driven by a guilty conscience that is no better by killing. Their god is evil and never satiable. They have no solution but a horrible and continuous self-righteous life, punctuated by milestones of power, success and human effort.
Shockingly, guilt is one of the most serious attacks on the lives of faithful believers, too.
I myself have suffered a lot by guilt. I came from a totalitarian regime: from the classic "shame or fame" culture and my fragmented family has not been without condemnation. Regime lives by control. Control gives pressure and shame based feelings. And you are now in the totalitarian realm too. Fame or shame Trends are literary everywhere: body shame, racism, pressure on your portfolio, on your taste, on your faith, on your diet … Your femininity is under attack and so is your masculinity – according to the existentialist, "trendy" media streams & campaigns and movements by deteriorated people.

Okay. That is the place we came from. But in the next notice I want to focus on the lesson what the Word of God gives, what I gradually get as believer …

This is what I didn't learn 1st, then I understood later.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Ephesians 1:7 (N.I.V.)

Satan wants you back

The first thing first! I Must Repeat.
Satan wants you back, my believer brother sister, it reminds you of the old.. It envies you, because it envies God and hates His righteousness: your adoption. He is The Accuser. The Snake who wants to bite you.
Good News that Jesus is the heir Who trampled the head of the satan, bitten by its teeth but won victory by his pure and innocent blood!

Unconfessed: unsolved — Confessed: solved

If You have unconfessed sins, satan has a real claim. If you have unconfessed faults: put them down! The Blood of Christ washes {"has been washing"} our sins away – says John.

"If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
1Jn 1:9
confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Jms 5:16

So, beloved – put it down! Be free from sins!

Don't forget the finished work on the Cross. The sprinkled blood speaks on behalf of the Faithful.

(you have come).. to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Heb 12:24

Give thanks to God's mercy! He paid an unimaginable price for your righteousness! Confess your faults! Run from the sin! Demand the precious Blood! The Blood is like the daily shower. Do not miss standing under the sprinkled blood! Your sound faith in your righteousness depends on it {now, pls. read John 1:9 again!}

Human Habits and the "3 R Solution"

If You still have wrong, unsolved, undeleted habits {sinning - says John in his teaching} simply admit them. You can not hide them! God has a name: El Roi - "God who sees" (Ps 33:13-15,18; Jer 17:9) But He is the Abba "Dad" also!

God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son, then heir through God.
Gal. 4:7

The "3 R solution" and steps:

Recognize! Recognize first, then
Repent. Repent, Repent and be
Reconciled to God!
Please do not delay! Repentance is action, goes after the confession, fits in with your righteousness. They walk together!
Repentance takes a bit more time than Recognition - you can not push an "R" button instantly - but brings good changes by the Lord's power. But His power comes at the end of your power or ability. Repentence brings you closer to the Holy Gd's free mercy, after you gave up solving the problem by your sheer force. When you have found your end and repent - Reconciliation comes.
Psalmist says:

For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
Psalm 25:11-12
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
Psalm 37:5
Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules
Psalm 119:5-7

Intimate relationship strengthens love

Intimacy strengthens love. Love gives peace and confidence.
Intimacy with Gd strengthens agape love. This love gives peace and confidence in everything.
Heavenly Love is the most beautiful relationship. Filia {brotherly love - said Peter in his 2nd letter} shapes our congregation. It has many condition. But Agape {inviting love, or charity feast} - as he added - is sg. more broad, it's for every neighbour. Agape, the inviting / charity love tops the Christian character list in 2Pt 1:5-6. Agape Love has only one condition: the real- ationship with Gd. Did you sin? Do not hide yourself from Gd Almighty with fig leaf. Do not ruin the real- ationship! He is your life! He is your Redeemer! He is Holy! He restores your heart and your conscience.
In the beginning the Fisherman Peter was a fragile and impulsive man who often gave voice to his superficial and quick reflections.
But the new person, the Apostle Peter in 1Pt 3:15 says:

In your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord...

Here Peter directly refers to Isa 8:12-13, to the Lord of Hosts! → where Isaiah says: ".. He will be your sanctuary". This means that our wholehearted sanctification is the strongest position, The most solid safety and peace in our life! In mind & in heart. Love comes with strength!

Pure & Strong in heart

There's an old song:

Lord, purify my heart!

But the apostolic team didn't sing such a fiddle! They say:

Purify yourself!

Apostle John the beloved disciple has a rather broad and almost "galactic" vision of our heavenly future. This view strengthens our biblical hope and gives us real motivation to be pure:

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared;
but we know that when He appears we shall be like him, because we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1Jn 3:2

Uncharted Territories

Well, selfish motivations are not uncommon in our postmodern society, and religion is no exception. However, this attitude of purity is more about spiritual hygiene than about any "self-improvement on the road to Heaven". Gd is Holy and Almighty. We, simply, need holiness for the closer relationship with Him. We need pure conscience for heavenly works instead of displacement activity, substitute for righteousness.

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 9:14

One very good news is that there is a practical way for us, a great possibility to our purification, to our healthy conscience – and that is to have a closer relationship with each other – an honest and trusting one. Through these reliable interactions, through love, we can explore our uncharted territories - and we can develop them.

^{the johari window*}

* The johari window is a technique designed to help people better understand their relationship with themselves and others. It was created by psychologists Joseph Luft (1916–2014) and Harrington Ingham (1916–1995) in 1955, and is used primarily in self-help groups and corporate settings as a heuristic exercise.
Luft and Ingham named their model "Johari" using a combination of their first names.
the full description of the Johari window is here.

A well-known cognitive psychology tool called "Johari Window" shows us the map of our aspects & consciousness.
Room one is the Open area, the part of ourselves that we and others see. Room two is the Blind spot. This place contains aspects that others see but we are unaware of. Room three is the Hidden area, the private space we know but hide from others. Room four is the unconscious, Unknown part of us that neither ourselves nor others see.
Only the Lord Mighty knows well our sins, particularly the room four.

God, You know my foolishness,
and my guilty acts are not hidden from You.
Ps 69:5

Our Good News that Our Open area can grow. The more honest and transparent we live our lives, the fewer misty parts and blind spots we hide, and the more wisdom we gain from each other, from our mistakes and victories.

..work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Phil 2:12
Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Ps 19:12-14
..our Savior, ... desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Tim 2:3-4
..let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven.
Mt 5:16

Transparent and Honest

The Johari Window is just a modern representation of the process that goes on between us in a healthy community. Interdependence and care for one another is an important part of the human community.
In the time of the Old Testament the Jewish nation had a meticulous system of religious elements where each person had to bring a sacrifice to the priests who would examine it and if it was appropriate, God could be atoned for. Plus, there were various sacrifices for a variety of occasions. In addition, every year the high priest would go to the Holy of Holies to settle the sins of the people, taking upon his heart all the tribes of Israel and their judgments!
In the time of the New Testament all the nations as got a perfect, heavenly solution via the High Priest: Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness and His atonement is our purification and restoration.

Our High Priest who prays

It is our Good News that we have a High Priest who prays for us continually because his sacrifice is perfect and will not pass away.

“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but HE holds his priesthood permanently, because HE continues forever. Consequently, HE is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through HIM, since HE always lives to make intercession for THEM.
Heb 7:21-28 (contains the whole reflection)

Priesthood who prays

Moreover, as part of the good news: we are also a priesthood! In the New Testament, we are the priesthood, and that should automatically mean that we confess our sins, when we prepare the prayers and intercessions.
But we aren't. This is the most shocking thing in the modern churches. We don't confess our sins to each other Neither the leaders nor the led obey the Word:

... confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed...
Jms 5:16

James' words are useful and worthy of consideration. But we do not confess and leave our sins behind... Why? God is Light! His dynamic and power comes from his light and splendor.

God is light

This is a pillar of apostolic teaching. God is the light. We go to the light, we come out of the light and this light is the power of our actions! We represent the light!
God's work, its effectiveness, comes from his glory and splendor. The prophet Habakkuk represented the work of God, he called it and referred to his light when he wrote:

Lord, I have heard the report about You;
Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds.
Revive Your work in these years;
make it known in these years.
In Your wrath remember mercy!
God comes from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
(Selah)
His splendor covers the heavens,
and the earth is full of His praise.
His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from His hand.
This is where His power is hidden.
Hab. 3:2-4

When we care each other we have fellowship and tender interaction with each other. And sometimes we must warn* or admonish each other (Heb 3:13) - this is an important message, we have every opportunity to escape the inhuman ways of the world.

Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1Jn 1:5-10 (Holmann)
You must warn* each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
Hebrews 3:13-14 (NLT)

*The word "παρακαλέω" here is familiar with the main feature of the Holy Spirit who is our supporter advocate: "parakleitos" but we must add the whole meaning to the context: "parakaleis" means "urge, exhort, comfort, entreat, admonish" and not simply encouragement as some Bible translators like to soften up relationship conflicts. This is a very serious trend, because the work of the Holy Spirit is as complex and sometimes very definite as mentoring or warning one another.

The Holy Spirit is our comforter & encouraging supporter but He is The Lord and sometimes He is quite definitive! As for the purification we all need to be washed and refreshed. Sometimes we need to be corrected by the Holy Spirit, sometimes we need to be corrected by a matured, faithful mentor-elder.
We believers all walk a narrow, sometimes tiring and exhausting road where our feet get dirty. And Our Lord is not naive! He says: wash each other's feet! I am the model!
Jesus teaches us to do this! He has all the tools and skills to wash our feet, but he has also left that task to us.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Jn 13:14

Many of us understand the "humbleness" part of this teaching. But, but “here comes the hybris” when we ritually wash each others leg (physically) in a 'conference' or special community day. Okay. It's a good sign of the reconciliation but shows a systematic misunderstanding of the humble & constant servant heart and humble relationship. Now we must see that this teaching includes our mutual need in the everyday walk.
We need each other to understand and develop our weak parts the hidden /vague "rooms". The three keywords are the good self esteem and the reciprocity in unity.
When there is unity among community members, we find our invisible weaknesses and we can move forward on the path of purification. When there is unity among congregations, we find and understand the vision of others and learn from each other. We recognize our weaknesses and purification comes in both our vision and our actions. This is the place for the Lord's presence because he is Immanuel {'Gd is with us' Isa 7:14}. And he says:

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
Mt 18:20

Pure heritage

We have an adopted position, with a heritage. We have a strong position - if we have integrity.
Integrity brings you a bunch of extremely important "tool" in the backpack. One of them is the good consciousness.
The unknown apostolic leader, who wrote the Hebrew letter gave us strong statements and teachings about our new status, apart from the Law.
He in the Heb 10:2 says:

10:2
..would the Levitical sacrifices not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
10:8
When Christ said.., “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (Ps 40:6 these are offered according to the Law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
10:15
And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” - declares the Lord -
“I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,” -
then he adds, -
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
(in Jeremiah 31:34)

Confident & true in heart

The writer of the Hebrew letter also wrote about the good conscience and assurance:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:19

Apostle Paul often appeals to his good conscience. Let's not forget that he was incessantly acting in front of his accusers, often suffering physical abuse because of them. He was constantly, consciously proclaiming the new covenant: the grace and righteousness above the Law, the untouchable spiritual status of the Christ followers - and the confrontation between the two realm.
His conscience was rooted in the Cross. Christ redeeming work gave him the Authority to do this.

Paul... looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth…
Act 23:1-2

Why this anger? There is a huge spiritual and intellectual conflict here in seconds! The man of the letter is attacking the man of the Spirit. Who has no constant peace in his heart attacks the Faithful who has been constantly cleansed from the bad conscience.

Pass it on

Elsewhere in his pastoral guidance, Paul also taught emphatically about a good conscience. To Timothy he writes:

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith...
1 Tim 1:18-19

And here we can find another testimony on Paul's heart:

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience..
2Tim 1:2-3

I would like to emphasise: The good conscience is crucial. This is our heritage, our mindset - right from our apostles! Because the Message became flesh. And We Are the Incarnate Message for others, followers of the incarnate message: Jesus. There's no good conscience for the mean and the selfish. No straight and honest way for the hiding person. Good message and Warning –this is what we have. We're to pass it on.

Closing

Many people have a deep feeling: shame, being condemned. Often, they have a conscious or subconscious guilt on which they have two reactions.
The extroverted religious characters claim that they are not sinners anymore because of the Blood of Christ.
On the contrary, the introverted claims that (we!) are all sinners, in this way he/she is ignoring the propitiation, the down deal for us & in us.
Both of group ignores the apostolic mindset namely that :

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Purification has various way in the kingdom - the Lord's sovereign ways in the relationship, in his restoring plan. Meanwhile the Lord is a good father, not simply a sovereign. He disciplines those who are his sons.
He, as Father, is quite concerned about our sins and failures. He cares about our spiritual and mental hygiene. And - he is the jealous Gd, and is fully aware of our new status as sons and heirs: we have heritage, we are heirs in the heavenly family: this is our new life: the New Self, new ID. We are not under the Law we have place, rank, tasks in a family - but our father is the head of the family and he has many responsibilities for our character.
Satan knows that the constant accusation takes a lot of energy. But the heavenly voice from Gd explicitly says:

“If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 1:9; 2:1-2

And when the last sentence is revealed, we stop analyzing ourselves and start worrying about the lost around us.

· Fear VS. Accepance
· Reset
· Confidence in Prayers

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