Why Does Sin Make God Feel So Distant?
In our last 2 installments of this series, we dove into the issue of sin and how God views us. This is so very important because we were created for relationship and intimacy with God, Who is wild about every one of His kids. Sin hijacks that very purpose.
If you have not read the first two installments of this blog series, please do. I have been building something that will bring great freedom and joy!
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
How many of us have done something that we knew was wrong and felt that it changed how God saw us.
The truth is that God sees right through your behavior to YOU – your very being.
Colossians 1:20-22 (TPT) says:
20 And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again!
21–22 Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored,
He sees you:
- as innocent, holy, flawless and restored
- with nothing between you and Him
How much of this involves YOUR performance. Look again:
Colossians 1:20-22 (TPT) says:
20 And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again!
21–22 Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored.
Note the language:
- by the blood of His cross
- He reconnected you back to Himself
- He released his supernatural peace
- through the sacrifice of His own body
He did it ALL. How good a job, do you think He did making you innocent, holy, flawless and restored with nothing between you and Him?
Is sin more powerful than Jesus’ performance to choose you and maintain connection with you?
We have been erroneously taught. We have sin-consciousness, shame, fear, guilt and condemnation – NONE of which come from God!
Not only are you forgiven for all sin for all time (Hebrews 10:10), but Paul says you are not condemnable – you are in Christ (Romans 8:1). He goes on further in Romans 8:31, 33 – 35 to exclaim:
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
God has justified you – end of argument.
So Why Does God Feel So Distant?
It is an honest question and an honest feeling.
It is just not truth.
In Romans 8:35 it asks two questions:
34 Who then is the one who condemns?
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
That “who” in both cases includes you, in relationship towards yourself.
If you feel distant from God, you are probably condemning yourself and separating yourself in your mind.
So… Renew your mind! Ephesians 4:23-24 (AMPC) says:
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.
As I have discussed in previous blogs, the word for “put on” is the Greek word endyō, which means to “sink into” the reality of your flawless holy nature as you would a fluffy robe that fits you just right.
THAT is how God sees you because that is truly who you are!
If I Am Forgiven, Why Do I Feel So Guilty?
For one, there is such a thing as false guilt.
To determine if there is something you are truly guilty of, ask the Lord.
He will be truthful, but never condemning.
If there is true guilt there, receive the forgiveness He has already given and forgive yourself.
Clean up any mess you can practically. That means if you harmed yourself or someone else, do what you can to make appropriate amends.
If there really is no guilt by God’s standard, but you still feel guilty, it is a false guilt.
If you need to go through the process of receiving forgiveness and forgive yourself, that is fine.
In either case, if after all this, you STILL feel guilty, a defiled conscience is what the problem is (Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:22).
Ask the Lord to cleanse your conscience with His blood, so that you are free. Linger there and let Him minister that cleansing. He wants you feeling the cleanness and innocence of who you really are!
Clean with Innocence Restored
Feeling clean and innocent – righteousness conscious – is your birthright.
You are born of God – holy, righteous, beautiful and powerful!
You are of His essence (2 Peter 1:2-4)!
You look just like Him (Genesis 1:26 – 27; John 4:17).
One with God – No Separation
Because of this, we have absolutely no separation from Him. There are so many scriptures about this.
Here is one of my favorites:
Colossians 2:10-11 (TPT)
10 And our own completeness is now found in him. We are completely filled with God as Christ’s fullness overflows within us. He is the Head of every kingdom and authority in the universe!
11 Through our union with Him we have experienced circumcision of heart. All of the guilt and power of sin has been cut away and is now extinct because of what Christ, the Anointed One, has accomplished for us.
Let the power of those words flow through your being!
The Endless Love of God
As you linger, you can now more confidently say (Romans 8: 35, 38 – 39, TPT)
35 Who could ever separate us from the endless love of God’s Anointed One? Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us.
38 So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles,[ai] fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. 39 There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!
Let Him minister that endless love to you right now!
XO,
Catherine
By Recognizing that He has NEVER been far from you and is not far from you and He has forgiven you. You may want to go back to the the blogs and videos on condemnation that I have sent you.
We can certainly talk about it tomorrow
I am so glad – I can answer questions tomorrow
Thank you for this post It ministered to me immensely. Been struggling with guilt and condemnation. Now through the Word of God , I know God is not condemning me but loving me.
I love that so much! He is your biggest fan! So good to hear from you!
So good Catherine, very practical and helpful! Thank you!
I am so glad it blessed you – thanks for letting me know!