Two Coverings: Guilt or Grace

Illustrating a Truth of Discerning the Enemy

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Every day we have an important choice set before us that we may not even realize we are making. If we are believers, God offers us the all-inclusive covering of His mighty grace: He has accepted us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), forgiven all of our sins at the cross (Colossians 1:14), and has freely justified us through the Blood of His Son (Romans 8:24).

God doesn’t want us to feel guilty! And yet, if we aren’t careful, feelings of guilt may follow us, seeking to crush us under the weight of trying to keep “the law” perfectly (whether it’s God’s rules or ours), to get everything right in our own strength, and to live frustrated with ourselves when we don’t. Instead, why not choose to trust perfectly in the grace that is being perpetually offered to you? Let's learn to live "light and bright" under His mercy!

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. Galatians 3:24-25

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest [Law]… But you have come to Mount Zion… to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. [Mercy] Hebrews 12:18, 22-24

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Prayer

Father, I have been trying to "cover" myself with the tattered garments of my efforts at perfection and it has kept me so stressed within myself and made me so judgmental of others. Forgive me! It is as if I haven't really believed that the Blood of Jesus was a sufficient covering for me or for anyone else! You don't want me to feel so guilty or to be putting guilt, blame or shame on others. I renounce all unbelief in Your perfect covering of grace and mercy. Help me repent and believe the good news!

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