Whenever you sin, it’s a bad thing and it renders you guilty before God, whether you feel it or not. But there are such things as “good guilt” and “bad guilt.” Here’s the difference and where each type of guilt comes from.
Bad Guilt Is Accusation and Condemnation
Bad guilt is the work of Satan himself. His name actually means “the accuser” in ancient Hebrew. Satan is even referred to as the accuser in the Bible.
Revelation 12:10 The accuser of our brothers and sisters had been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
Not only does Satan try to accuse us before God, but he also accuses us within our own hearts. He uses bad guilt to keep you stuck in your sin. It takes away your hope. Yes, our sin deserves condemnation, but we have been saved through Jesus Christ. But Satan wants you to think your sin is too much for God’s grace.
Good Guilt Is Godly Conviction
This type of guilt come from the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit our sin in brought to light. Good guilt helps us to realize that our sin is actually wrong. This may sound similar to the bad guilt described before, but there is a big difference between these two types of guilt.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
We see that this good guilt pulls us away from sin and pushes us towards God. This good guilt will help lead you to repentance, while bad guilt will lead you to despair and spiritual death.
Godly Conviction Brings Us to the cross
The cross is where we can be reconciled with God. The Lord wants you to come to the cross so he can redeem you of your sins.
Isaiah 30:18 So the Lord waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion.
God is willing to forgive you of your sins if you simply ask. Good guilt pushes you to surrendering those sins and accepting the cross. Because of what Jesus did on the cross we don’t have to live lives filled with sin and despair. We just have to accept Christ as our savior and we will be cleansed of our sins. Don’t let your bad guilt keep you from accepting this gift.
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Do you think the distinction between “good” and “bad” guilt is valid? Explain.
- Read Revelation 12:10. Share a time when you experienced “bad guilt.”
- Read John 16:8. Share a time when you experienced “good guilt.”
- How does the Holy Spirit’s conviction lead to transformation?
- What makes it hard to accept God’s forgiveness after you have sinned?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
