Removal of guilt

The removal of guilt is God’s work

Je 2:22; Ro 8:33 “Justify” is a legal term which includes the meaning “to declare not guilty”.

See also 2 Sa 24:10; Ps 32:1–5; Is 6:1–6

The removal of guilt requires confession

Psalm 32:5 NIV

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

See also Ro 2:4; Ps 51:14; Ac 11:21; Je 3:12–13; 2 Sa 24:10; 2 Ti 2:25; 1 Jn 1:8–9

The removal of guilt by the OT sacrificial system

Guilt removed by the guilt offering

Leviticus 6:6–7 NIV

And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.”

See also Le 19:20–22; Ezr 10:18–19

Guilt removed by the sin offering

Numbers 15:27–28 NIV

“ ‘But if just one person sins unintentionally, that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering. The priest is to make atonement before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven.

See also Le 5:5–6; Nu 6:9–11

Guilt removed by the Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16:20–34 NIV

“When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness. “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there. He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp. The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp. “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you—because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community. “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Animal sacrifices are ultimately ineffective in removing guilt

Hebrews 10:1–4 NIV

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

See also Heb 9:9

The removal of guilt by Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death

Is 53:10–12 This prophecy finds its ultimate fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ; Heb 9:14

See also Tt 2:14; Heb 9:28; 1 Jn 1:7; Jn 1:29 The point of John’s image is that Jesus Christ will be sacrificed, as lambs were, to remove people’s guilt; Ro 5:9 The blood of Jesus Christ referred to here is his shed blood, and therefore speaks of his (sacrificial) death; 2 Co 5:21 Human guilt is transferred to Jesus Christ, in order that believers might become righteous before God; Heb 10:11–14

The results of guilt being removed

A clean conscience

Heb 9:14; Heb 10:22

Peace with God

Is 53:5; Ro 5:1; Col 1:19–20

Access into God’s presence

Ro 5:1–2; Eph 2:18

Joy

Ps 32:1–11; Ro 5:1–2

Hope

Romans 5:1–2 NIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

A desire to worship God

Psalm 51:14–15 NIV

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

A desire to serve God

Is 6:6–8; Jn 21:15–20