The Gospel and The Problem of Guilt
One of the fundamental issues of humanity—something we are utterly incapable of resolving on our own—is the problem of guilt. Sometimes, we even downplay this issue.
The tragedy is that our world seems to offer its own ways out of this problem. Since the very beginning, in the story of the Fall, Adam and Eve tried to cover their guilt in their own way. David B. Hart writes that Nazi commanders could sometimes fall asleep to the strains of J. S. Bach’s music—even as they committed atrocities against their fellow human beings.
Culture, moralism, and of course the ‘virtues’ of religion are often employed as means to resolve this problem of guilt.
Scripture, however, proclaims the good news:
Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin
(Romans 4:7–8, ESV)
Yes, blessed are those whose sins are forgiven—not those who justify themselves.
We cannot truly live—let alone serve—with unresolved guilt. The condemnation that guilt brings is, in fact, a foretaste of hell itself (where there is no longer any way out), and no one can live joyfully under the constant flames of hellfire.
This is why Satan delights in accusing humanity—because the inability to escape such accusations is deeply paralyzing to life itself.
Some people go through life in a highly defensive posture, constantly trying to prove (and deceive themselves) that they are good enough—that they are not guilty.
Beyond that, some take a more aggressive approach, habitually blaming others—whether through gaslighting, guilt-tripping, scapegoating, or fostering toxic environments. The underlying aim is to deflect from their own guilt and cover it up by magnifying the faults of others.
They may appear superior, but in truth, it is simply a lack of courage to admit their own guilt before God.
The gospel frees us by declaring that in Christ, we are loved and forgiven.
There is no longer any need for us to desperately seek to earn the love and approval of others—or even of ourselves—because we have already received it fully in Christ.
This frees us from the exhausting need to live defensively, or worse, to live accusatorily—tearing others down, which ultimately destroys not only them but also ourselves.
Through the power of this gospel of grace, we can freely and boldly confess our weaknesses before a loving God, and also learn to be patient with the weaknesses and faults of others. Indeed, we hope that one day, through the Spirit’s work of sanctification, we will be able to cover the faults of others as Christ has done for us—not out of ignorance or naivety, but because we are immersed in the love of Christ. Love covers a multitude of sins.