The key to being set free from the guilt and condemnation of past mistakes and sins is to confess our sins to God and to repent. (See 1 John 1:8-10, 2:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 7:10.) Romans 10:9-10 tells us that with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Likewise, with the mouth we confess our mistakes and sins to God, and He cleanses our guilty conscience (1 John 1:9).
Just how free does God’s plan make us? In Hebrews 10:17, quoting from Jeremiah 31:34, God says, ““I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” You can’t get much freer than that! God literally has no more remembrance of our past once it is confessed and removed by the blood of Jesus (Colossians 1:19-23; Hebrews 9:11-14).
If God doesn’t remember our past, we don’t have to be reminded of it either. Satan will try to bring it up and replay our mistakes and sins over and over in our minds like a movie. But remember, he is the enemy of the soul (of which the mind and memory are part), and he can be resisted. We can forgive ourselves and forget those things that are behind and press on toward God (Philippians 3:13-14).
Bring your thoughts under control according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. You can literally make your mind obey you. Instead of allowing your mind and Satan to dictate your thoughts, you can tell your mind what to think (Philippians 4:8). James 4:7 says to submit to God and resist the devil, and he (Satan) will flee from you!
Not only can you resist wrong thoughts and refuse memories of past sins, Romans 12:2 says you can renew your mind to what God’s Word says. Just because your mind is full of guilt and condemnation does not mean that God is holding your sin against you. He has already forgotten it, so you must forget it too. Remember, God is love and He loves you regardless of your past. So receive His forgiveness and acceptance, forgive yourself, and then let go of those things which are behind.
We encourage you to be renewed in the spirit of your mind by putting on the new man which is created to be like God—created in righteousness and true holiness—and give Satan no place! (See Ephesians 4:22-27.)
