If i am saved, why do i still have guilt from my past?

Many believers struggle with guilt from past decisions that may hinder their spiritual growth.

But why do we struggle with guilt so much? The answer is simply because we cannot rid ourselves of our memories.

When we are saved at the moment of our regeneration and justification, our soul / inner man is renewed. We are made new creations in Christ.

However, the new creation in Christ is still part of the flesh attached to our fallen human nature.

Our memories are part of that flesh, and contrary to popular belief, they don’t just disappear. You might need some time to forget some sinful experiences, but that is expected because they are connected to deep and heightened emotions that are not easily erased.

Over time, as believers grow in grace and in knowledge of Christ, these memories will slowly begin to fade away.

However, it must be noted that guilt is not necessarily a bad thing. We sometimes need to remember and have a memory of our sin because that is what reminds us of God’s goodness. It helps us remember who we once were and reassures us that God continues to guide and care for us.

Brokenness is appropriate when it is directed towards Christ in acknowledgement of what He has done for us and not simply for self-pity or attention.

Another important fact to realize is that we aren’t perfect beings and we do fall into sin sometimes. The Apostle John tells us, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

“A person who is not concerned about having their present sins cleansed has good reason to doubt that their past sin has been forgiven. A person who has no desire to come to the Lord for continued cleansing has reason to doubt that he ever came to the Lord to receive salvation.” – Excerpt From The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: The Complete Set, 33 Volumes