Does God want us to feel guilt?

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I'm not sure guilt is of God. Does guilt not grieve the indwelling Spirit? I don't think God wants us to stew in guilt.

But what the sense of conviction? We are to be convicted of our sin in our hearts and seek to overcome sin in our lives through Christ. Are these two the same?

Should the mature believer continue on in guilt when they slip up? Should the mature believer acknowledge the slip up, apologize, and continue on with their life as though nothing happened in order to not grieve the Spirit with negative emotions of guilt?
 

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Lesson 55: God’s Answer for Guilt (Romans 8:33-34)


This is a lengthy article but here's the conclusion:

Conclusion
In John Bunyan’s autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, he tells how he went through several years of wrestling with his guilty conscience. He shares this helpful and practical insight (The Works of John Bunyan [Baker], 1:35-36, paragraph 229):

But one day, as I was passing in the field, and that too with some dashes in my conscience, fearing lest yet all was not right, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, Thy righteousness is in heaven; and I … saw, with the eyes of my soul, Jesus Christ at God’s right hand; there, I say, as my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was a-doing, God could not say of me, He wants [lacks] my righteousness, for that was just before him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Bunyan saw that God’s answer to guilt does not lie with us, but with God and Christ alone. If God has chosen you and justified you through the effective mediation of the crucified, risen, exalted, and praying Savior, then you can answer any charge against you. If God, the sovereign Judge of all has said (8:1), “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” then you are not condemned!
 
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timewerx

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Guilt is good.

A tax collector had a bout of guilt (he couldn't even worship God because of guilt!) and he was justified:

Luke 18:13-14

But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”…
 
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brinny

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I'm not sure guilt is of God. Does guilt not grieve the indwelling Spirit? I don't think God wants us to stew in guilt.

But what the sense of conviction? We are to be convicted of our sin in our hearts and seek to overcome sin in our lives through Christ. Are these two the same?

Should the mature believer continue on in guilt when they slip up? Should the mature believer acknowledge the slip up, apologize, and continue on with their life as though nothing happened in order to not grieve the Spirit with negative emotions of guilt?

There is "Godly sorrow", which is God's Holy Spirit "convicting" us, leading us to "repentance".

This is a GOOD thing.
 
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Eloy Craft

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I'm not sure guilt is of God. Does guilt not grieve the indwelling Spirit? I don't think God wants us to stew in guilt.

Friend, when we don't do what love requires it grieves the Spirit. The guilt is like the pain of a wound. It heals when we bandage it and resolve to not do what caused the wound again. Sorrow and seek forgiveness
But what the sense of conviction? We are to be convicted of our sin in our hearts and seek to overcome sin in our lives through Christ. Are these two the same?
An act of charity begins in the heart, and is completed as an act of charity for another. A convict is not free until the dues are paid. You got it. It's a changed heart that is made evident by the our deeds in life.
Should the mature believer continue on in guilt when they slip up? Should the mature believer acknowledge the slip up, apologize, and continue on with their life as though nothing happened in order to not grieve the Spirit with negative emotions of guilt?
Yes, acknowledge Ask for forgiveness, be resolved to not be that way again. Move on not as if it never happened but as if it is not subject to judgment or brought to mind.
 
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Foxfyre

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I'm not sure guilt is of God. Does guilt not grieve the indwelling Spirit? I don't think God wants us to stew in guilt.

But what the sense of conviction? We are to be convicted of our sin in our hearts and seek to overcome sin in our lives through Christ. Are these two the same?

Should the mature believer continue on in guilt when they slip up? Should the mature believer acknowledge the slip up, apologize, and continue on with their life as though nothing happened in order to not grieve the Spirit with negative emotions of guilt?

IMO, this one is pretty simple in a complex sort of way. The sociopath feels no guilt because the sociopath, while fully able to understand that others do have strong senses of right and wrong and sometimes uses that to his advantage, he himself has no such sense of right and wrong.

But normal people have normal guilt which is a healthy thing when it it convicts us of the wrong that we do, or as the Christian and some other religions would say, of the sin that we commit. When it is healthy, it prompts us to correct what is wrong, apologize, make amends, or perhaps just to go to prayer, confess, and ask for forgiveness if the deed is done and we can't undo it or atone for it. (Think eating that half a chocolate pie when we know it was harmful to do. Or something worse.) Once we have done what we should do to remedy it and/or give it to God that way, we pick ourselves up, are humble to understand that we too stumble and fall short--it keeps us from being sinfully self-righteous--and go on with our lives trying to be a better version of ourselves.

Guilt becomes unhealthy when it results from somebody exercising manipulation, control, or using us for political advantage. For instance trying to make us feel guilty that we aren't doing enough for somebody. Feeling guilty that we owe amends to somebody because some historical figure did something bad when we had nothing to do with it nor are people now suffering consequences for it. Or making us believe we are actually harming people or are evil because we embrace a particular religious denomination or believe something in faith or that we hate our mother or father and that is why we have this or that issue which deep down we know is pure crock.

I think normal people understand the difference between normal healthy guilt and that which isn't.
 
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Grace2022

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I'm not sure guilt is of God. Does guilt not grieve the indwelling Spirit? I don't think God wants us to stew in guilt.

But what the sense of conviction? We are to be convicted of our sin in our hearts and seek to overcome sin in our lives through Christ. Are these two the same?

Should the mature believer continue on in guilt when they slip up? Should the mature believer acknowledge the slip up, apologize, and continue on with their life as though nothing happened in order to not grieve the Spirit with negative emotions of guilt?

I think guilt is simply our conscience. When we know we have sinned. The Holy Spirit alerting us to put things right. Guilt, like pain, serves a purpose. We should heed it in order to achieve peace.
 
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Grace2022

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I think guilt is simply our conscience. When we know we have sinned. The Holy Spirit alerting us to put things right. Guilt, like pain, serves a purpose. We should heed it in order to achieve peace.


You know what? I always put my reply to questions before i read anyone else's. Then i read other responses. That way i know my reply is not influenced and is truly my own thoughts. That way it is a nice feeling to know i am genuinely in tune with other believers.
Does that make sense? Lol! Here we are saying the same thing but in our own special unique ways. Its nice.
 
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Guilt, like pain, serves a purpose. We should heed it in order to achieve peace.

I agree, but can there come a time when we overfocus on guilt in a way spending so much time on the pity pot becomes sin? Or is it humbling in that is shows deep repentance in the sight of God?

Should we progressively feel worse about sin, or should we feel very bad about sins at the turn of conversion and beginning of Justification/Sanctification?
 
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Grace2022

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Too complicated for my little brain!
Just be aware when you know very well you have done something that grieves God. Then sincerely ask for forgiveness and try your best to live according to God's will.
You know you are doing it right when the guilt is replaced by peace and joy.
 
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Eloy Craft

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I agree, but can there come a time when we overfocus on guilt in a way spending so much time on the pity pot becomes sin? Or is it humbling in that is shows deep repentance in the sight of God?

Should we progressively feel worse about sin, or should we feel very bad about sins at the turn of conversion and beginning of Justification/Sanctification?
Progressive guilt isn't normally due to progressing in sin. So it's possible. Progressing in sin deadens the conscience and consequently the feeling of guilt is deadened The beginning of justification is the a gift of the Holy Spirit that gives birth to the desire for Baptism and be washed of our sin.
 
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Eloy Craft

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I agree, but can there come a time when we overfocus on guilt in a way spending so much time on the pity pot becomes sin? Or is it humbling in that is shows deep repentance in the sight of God?
There is a suffering called scrupulosity. It is the feeling that our sin is to great to be forgiven. People suffering this have an unbalanced fear of sinning and think almost everything they do is a sin. I can't know if this is happening to you just letting you know about it so you can do something about it if you determine it is possible.
Friend, I'm going to remember you in my prayers when I go to bed. Your brother in Christ
 
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PeaceJoyLove

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I'm not sure guilt is of God. Does guilt not grieve the indwelling Spirit? I don't think God wants us to stew in guilt.

But what the sense of conviction? We are to be convicted of our sin in our hearts and seek to overcome sin in our lives through Christ. Are these two the same?

Should the mature believer continue on in guilt when they slip up? Should the mature believer acknowledge the slip up, apologize, and continue on with their life as though nothing happened in order to not grieve the Spirit with negative emotions of guilt?

In the end, the guilt of sin is a relative truth to our soul (that we must lose to find it)... It is not about transgressing the law as much as it is about the soul that is condemned of itself for doing so.
Guilt being a perception of lack urges to follow on to grab hold of the promises of God in spirit and in truth...The mature believer will be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jesus said " “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” Which has everything to do with our perception and the question asked in the garden after the fall, "Where art thou?" Jesus went on to say, "If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

"Behold the lamb that takes away the sin of the world"...do we believe it is possible? Guilt comes as we perceive a lack, though that is not out of order and part of the process taking place within. Though, we being the temple not made with human hands/dwelling place of God, for a time perceive the Spirit of Christ as something outside of our being... that we lack God's declaration (from the beginning) that everything He made was "Very good" and then He rested on the 7th day. The promise of entering this rest brings us to single of eye perceiving...as Jesus speaks to here: Matthew 6:22

(Remember, in the garden when Adam heard God's voice outside of himself for the first time (after the fall) and was afraid? God asked him "Who told you that you were naked?")

The duality within (Romans 7) is the battle that is promised to end (by faith) at the revealing of the son within. Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Paul even said "We have the mind of Christ" and "Christ in you, the hope of glory". When we can perceive/see this WAY..."There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."



And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who dwells within you.
 
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seeking.IAM

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Guilt is our signal that our actions violate our beliefs, values, and conscience. We should pay attention to it, but it also needs realistic examination of whether it is exaggerated or warranted. If warranted, we have some things to change and reconcile. So, yes, God created us with the capacity to experience guilt, but I think He would prefer we act in ways so we don't have to feel guilty.
 
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dreadnought

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I'm not sure guilt is of God. Does guilt not grieve the indwelling Spirit? I don't think God wants us to stew in guilt.

But what the sense of conviction? We are to be convicted of our sin in our hearts and seek to overcome sin in our lives through Christ. Are these two the same?

Should the mature believer continue on in guilt when they slip up? Should the mature believer acknowledge the slip up, apologize, and continue on with their life as though nothing happened in order to not grieve the Spirit with negative emotions of guilt?
Guilt is good while we are sinning. When we repent of our sin, the guilt soon vanishes.
 
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Monna

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Guilt is sort of the spiritual eqivalent of physical or emotional pain. It is gift from God to let us know something is wrong ... please do something about it.

God also provides the healing power that gets at the root cause of this spiritual pain. You might look for pain-killers that treat the symptons, but that just drives it deeper, lulling you into a feeling that there's nothing serious.

At the same there is false guilt, a tool of the evil one to drive you to "medication" that causes additional spiritual illnesses - to extend the metaphor. Everything good that God gives us, the evil one tries to make a "fake copy" to deceive us, and trick us into avoiding going to the only one who has and is the truth.
 
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Foxfyre

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You know what? I always put my reply to questions before i read anyone else's. Then i read other responses. That way i know my reply is not influenced and is truly my own thoughts. That way it is a nice feeling to know i am genuinely in tune with other believers.
Does that make sense? Lol! Here we are saying the same thing but in our own special unique ways. Its nice.

I usually do too. If a question or thoughtful debate issue in the OP inspires me to respond, I generally do so before I read the thread.

Guilt is such a personal thing, but I'm pretty sure all of us of who are not sociopaths experience it from time to time. And it is necessary I think or we would all be much more destructive to ourselves and/or others.

It is unhealthy only when it is based on false premises and/or is provoked in others as a weapon to manipulate or control them.
 
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