Expert: Dean Gade - 10/10/2005

Question
Thank you: I live in a very Catholic country (Argentina), and there is a deep sense of guilt regarding sin. What is the real meaning of such concept? in what way the original "fall" made you and me be "born sinful"? (How a newborn can arrive to this world "sinful"). marcel.

Answer
The feeling of guilt is not only among Christians but also among people who have no religion.  Everybody realizes that they are not perfect.  There are things which we regret doing and things we regret not doing.

This lack of perfection happened at the original "fall".  God created all things "good" ie. perfect.  Even the animals did not eat each other and the ground did not grow things like thorns and thistles.

It is difficult for us to imagine such a world. We see a world which seems to fight us and itself.  We also see a world where people are selfish and put themselves above others in one way or another.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they lost this perfection and God cursed the earth because of them too.

When children are born, they are born imperfect.  They cannot help wanting for themselves.  That's the "sin" that is spoken of: it is more a lack than an action.

But this guilt that hangs over us as we are ashamed of our own actions has been dealt with by the God Who created us and wants us to be with Him forever, living in His love.

He accomplished this by sending His Son, Jesus, to take all the guilt on Himself and pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world.  There is no guilt between us and God any more. Our sins have been completely forgiven by God.

Our only real guilt is that which we still heap on ourselves because we feel inadequate see our mistakes daily. We keep thinking that we could do better and we judge ourselves.  Some get locked into constant guilt while others just excuse themselves by finding someone that they consider to be worse than they are.  These latter just cover up the sin and guilt but are never really free of it.

Everytime a Christian does fail to be what they want to be, it's time to turn again  to God for forgiveness. And then to know and believe that He has kept His word and has truely forgiven all our weaknesses.   

That's the only way to get rid of guilt.

Rom 4:7-8

7 "Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."   

Rom 3:19-26

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Heb 10:21-22
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience
(all from New International Version)