Top 7 Bible Verses For Those Feeling Guilty

Here are seven Bible verses for those who feel loaded down with guilt.

First John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I started with this verse first because it is just so powerful since it removes any doubt about which sins can and cannot be forgiven. You don’t need to be a Greek Bible scholar to know that God declares we are cleansed “from all unrighteousness” if we confess those unrighteous acts. We don’t have to wrestle with this verse as being a difficult doctrine to understand. It is as simple as it gets; confess your sins, He forgives you, and your sins are no more because all unrighteousness is vanished forever.

Second Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

This is the very reason why the Apostle Paul wrote that since “we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2nd Cor 5:20) because “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2nd Cor 5:19). That is the one and only way (Acts 4:12) that we can be seen as having the very righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

There is good reason for the Apostle Paul to write that those who are in Christ are no longer under God’s condemnation or judgment because those whom God justified through Christ are now at peace with God (Rom 5:1). There is no more condemnation after a person repents and trusts in Christ; the condemnation fell upon Jesus at the cross and through this and through Him, we are now at peace with God and can receive the peace of God.

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

Since only north and south meet at the equator, the significance of our sins being removed as far as east is from west is great because they never meet; they extend into a timeless eternity. That’s where are sins go; gone forever because just as our sins are removed everlastingly, “the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him and his righteousness to children’s children” (Psalm 103:17). The psalmist writes with such tenderness; “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14).

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If, after death and having not received Christ by repentance and faith, you will receive your wages and that is something far worse than death (Rev 20:12-15), but there is a “but” in this sentence that gives everyone a hope through a choice and that is to receive “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Let no one think they’re good enough to be saved (Rom 3:10-12) when the truth is we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) so decide today, because if Christ returns or if you die, it’s time to receive your wages (Heb 9:27) and your supposed “good works” will only be kindling for the fire on that day because they’re totally useless to God (Eph 2:8-9).

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans chapter 5 is a superb glance at salvation through Christ. For example, Paul writes “while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6), but even more amazing, “one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:7-8) and now we can joyfully say that “we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Rom 5:9).

Psalm 51:1-2 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

This may be the greatest prayer of repentance in the Bible and it is one that you can pray back to God when you have sinned, and we all must admit we’re sinners (1st John 1:8, 10), so it’s not a matter of “if” you and I sin, it’s just a matter of when. Carrying around unconfessed sin can really wreck your health too. King David wrote, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3) so he prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12). That prayer might lift your and my guilt and unburden your and my heart.

Conclusion

All too often we value feelings over truth. It’s like we validate our feelings as more important than what God’s Word says. Some carry needless guilt around with them when they can simply confess it and be cleansed (1st John 1:9), but some seem to cling to their guilt, perhaps as a way of excusing their not overcoming certain sins, but there is a very importance difference between the Holy Spirit’s conviction and worldly guilt. The Spirit will lead a person to repentance and confession of sin but worldly guilt leads only to feelings of condemnation and hopelessness which leads to despair. Worldly sorrow or guilt without repentance leads to death (2nd Cor 7:10). I pray that is not so with you.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.