Guilty, but forgiven

Guilt is a heavy burden.

Guilt is defined as "Remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offense" and "The state of having committed an offense" (WordWeb).

Offense against what? Is is offense against the constitution, our own (changeable) standard, or some other authority? It is the offenses against a Holy God--the Christian God, as taught in the Bible.

"Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you. "Do not commit murder. "Do not commit adultery. "Do not steal. "Do not accuse anyone falsely. "Do not desire another man's house; do not desire his wife, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns." (Exodus 20:12-17)

We have done these things. We have disrespected our parents, hated (thus murder in our heart), adultery (lusted in our hearts), stolen, lied, and wanted what someone else had.

What is the punishment for these things? Is we do break a nation's laws, we will be punished. Someone has to pay. If I break my neighbor's window, someone has to pay, and you know it will be ME.

Who pays for these other offenses? It is ME. What hope is there? Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. (Romans 5:6). God awaits for our cry, "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' "(Luke 18:13).