What the Bible says about Sin Creates Guilt
(From Forerunner Commentary)
David was brought face to face with truth, with reality, with light. The Holy Spirit actually confuted him and convicted him with an overwhelming argument, revealing where wrong and right were, and he could not escape. He dodged the issue for nine months at least, making all kinds of rationalizations, even to the point of bringing about the death of Uriah.
Maybe we would not have done something as criminal as that, but every one of us is guilty of the same thing in principle. We dodge the issue of our sinfulness.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Truth (Part 3)Related Topics: David's Repentance | Guilt | Hidden Sins | Holy Spirit | Rationalization | Repentance | Sin Creates Guilt
These verses show how we can know—if we are honest with ourselves—when we are coveting: by the fruit produced! Lust "drown[s] men in destruction and perdition" and "pierces one through with many sorrows." When we want something so badly we are not happy without it, we are coveting. Coveting's emotional effect is sorrow, pain, remorse, guilt, restlessness, and dissatisfaction.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Tenth Commandment (1998)
Eternal life is to know God (John 17:3). Do we want to know God and do His will at the same time? Keep His commandments. Do not sin. Overcome and grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). To do this, we have to desire to live the eternal life given us by the Father through Jesus Christ. This does not come easily. Our Savior describes this way as difficult and narrow, for human nature stands ever ready to throw stumbling blocks in our path.
Sin destroys ideals. As we sin, the high standards of eternal life are gradually eroded away, and we become willing to accept just about anything. Sin destroys innocence, and in the process creates fear, cynicism, guilt, and restlessness. Sin destroys the will, gradually removing the barriers to sin more and the incentive to do well.
Sin produces more sin, sickness, pain, slavery, and finally, death. This cycle will never change unless each person, as God summons him, takes it upon himself to allow himself to be motivated to use the gifts God gives. It takes a great deal of effort to do this. Jesus warns it will be difficult.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Elements of Motivation (Part Six): Eternal LifeRelated Topics: Commandment Keeping | Commandments, Keeping | Cynicism | Eternal Life | Eternal Life as Quality of Life | Fear | Fearfulness | Growing in Grace and Knowledge | Guilt | Keeping Commandments | Keeping Commandments as Love | Knowing God | Knowledge of Christ | Knowledge of God | Restlessness | Sin | Sin , Addictive Quality | Sin Begets Sin | Sin Creates Fear | Sin Creates Guilt | Sin Creates Restlessness | Sin Destroys Ideals | Sin Destroys Innocence | Sin Destroys Peace | Sin Destroys the Will | Sin Produces Death | Sin Produces More Sin | Sin Produces Slavery | Sin's Effect