THE GUILT OF MAN
MEMORY VERSE: “Now we know what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).
TEXT: Romans 1:18-32
This study focuses on Paul’s discourse on the guilt and deplorable state of man. The word ‘guilt’ in this context refers to the blame, condemnation and responsibility that go along with disobedience to the word of God. Man’s fall from grace through sin is what inevitably made him guilty before God. The impact of sin on man is so tremendous that his entire human nature has been tampered with. Thus, sin has affected man physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. However, despite the helpless state of man, there is a cure for sin made possible through the vicarious death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection.
CAUSES AND CASES OF GUILT
(Romans 1:18-23; 3:23; Genesis 3:9; 42:21, 22; 1 Samuel 15:23, 24; Acts 23:1-5; 24:16).
Many factors are responsible for man’s guilt. But sin and backsliding (whether open or secret) in particular have always been the primary cause of man’s guilt. It is when man falls into sin that guilt becomes operational in his life. Those addressed in our text were found guilty for holding the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:1827). They were aware of the beauty of God’s creation but that did not draw them closer to their Creator. They rather decided to give themselves to idol worship. This is unfortunate because God gave man the greatest honour by creating him in His own image. But man, on his own part, dishonoured God by reducing and likening Him to the image of created beasts.
QUESTION 1: Outline some causes of guilt.Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Failure to glorify and be thankful to God also leads to a sense of guilt and divine displeasure. Those who have the knowledge of God must necessarily acknowledge Him as the Creator and a holy God, worthy of honour, adoration, respect and worship. Believers should practically be thankful to Him for His multitudinous blessings and favour. The importance of a thankful attitude cannot be over-emphasized as it is a sign of our reverence for God. If the Gentiles who did not have access to the written word of God were considered inexcusable for breaking God’s law, then what is the fate of present-day believers who have the light of the gospel to guide them and yet fall into sin? As pointed out earlier, sin has always been the root cause of guilt. The origin of guilt, therefore, is traceable to man’s fall in the book of Genesis where Adam and Eve fell into sin of disobedience which brought about guilt and condemnation in their hearts. The story is still the same today. No one who commits sin is ever free from guilt and condemnation.
QUESTION 2: Mention some Bible characters who experienced guilt as a result of sin. Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
The Bible is replete with people who at one point or the other had guilt. Adam and Eve hid themselves in the Garden of Eden following their sin of disobedience. “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). No doubt, hiding themselves from God’s presence indicated the presence of guilt. Joseph’s brothers were hunted by a terrifying sense of guilt many years after selling their brother into the land of Egypt (Genesis 42:21). Saul acknowledged his sinfulness when his attention was drawn to his disobedience to God’s instruction to utterly destroy Amalek (1 Samuel 15:24). David’s heart smote him for cutting off King Saul’s skirt (1 Samuel 24:5). Paul was disturbed by his conscience for speaking against Ananias the High Priest and had to apologize immediately (Acts 23:5).
QUESTION 3: How can believers today maintain a conscience void of offence towards God and men? Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
To maintain a conscience void of offence towards God and man, the believer, among other things, should note the following: one, he should be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. This will impress on him the willingness to carry out any outstanding restitution. Two, he should also be able to apply the biblical admonition, “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Three, he should be prayerful and filled with God’s word. Four, he should also have a regular period of self-examination coupled with possessing the mind of Christ.
CONSEQUENCES OF GUILT (Romans 1:24-32; Ezekiel 7:8,9; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 5:6). Although God is a God of love, He is equally a God of justice and judgment. His unchanging reaction to sin has always been the cause of divine displeasure and chastisement. Prophet Ezekiel, writing on God’s judgment on Israel declared God’s intention thus: “Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth” (Ezekiel 7:8, 9).
QUESTION 4: State the consequences of guilt. Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
The consequences of the guilt of man are diverse, deadly and grave. God’s anger over sin is expressed by His giving up the wicked to uncleanness and vile affection that degrade the body and bring ruin and death to the disobedient. Also, the wicked has no access to the promises and blessings of God for His people which include peace, protection, provision, good success, long life, answered prayers and other blessings. If they fail to repent, they will face the wrath of God and eternal punishment in hell.In the Christian faith, having a head knowledge of God is not enough. A personal, sincere acknowledgement of God as Creator as well as personal Lord and Saviour is not only necessary but a must. It is at this point that the real knowledge of God begins. Also, one must deliberately and consistently study God’s word, meditate upon it and believe it so as to ensure rapid growth in the knowledge and power of God. This is in conformity with what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ once reprimanded His audience for: “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
QUESTION 5: Carefully explain how one can retain God in one’s knowledge.Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
If we desire to retain God in our knowledge, practical obedience to His word is also necessary. We must endeavour to know what God’s will is concerning every area of our lives as well as strive to fulfil same. It is also important that we carry out the Great Commission by preaching Christ and His saving grace to others. This is necessary because the more we help others to obtain the knowledge of Christ, the more we retain Him in our knowledge. Finally, we must deliberately pray for God’s enabling grace in our Christian journey.
THE CURE FOR GUILT (Ezekiel 18:31, 32; Romans 5:8, 9; Acts 17:30; John 3:36; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9).God, in His infinite love and mercy, has made adequate provision for the cure of man’s guilt. When the penitent sinner comes before God in sincere repentance and faith in Christ, he receives pardon for his sins.
QUESTION 6: Briefly explain the steps involved in Scriptural repentance. Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Biblical repentance involves the following simple but necessary steps. First, there must be acknowledgement of sin by the penitent sinner (Romans 3:23). Second, the guilty sinner is expected to confess his sins and repent from them. Third, the sinner should have faith in God. He should believe that God loves him and that Jesus died for him. He should also believe that God has forgiven his sins. Fourth, he should invite Jesus into his heart as personal Lord and Saviour through the prayer of faith. Once these simple steps are taken, the individual becomes a new creature and old things, including his guilt problem and its penalty, are passed away. As a new creature, he is now expected to take sides with God by having absolute hatred for sin, love for righteousness and assist in spreading the gospel to avert God’s wrath on sinners. Such would bring sinners into repentance and reconciliation with God. At this juncture, it is necessary to emphasize that God does not only frown at those who sin directly but also at those who derive pleasure from others’ sins as well as encourage them (Romans 1:32).
QUESTION 7: Identify some common sins that some believers are guilty of though they are not outrightly involved in them.Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk