Got Fruit ?

The following long post is from what initially started out as a response to a comment left by visitor TitforTat from the post: Oh yeah!?, how could a loving God condemn someone to hell?".  TitforTat’s comment, a quote from Thomas Talbott’s book: "The Inescapable Love of God", called for a deeper Biblical response which seemed a waste to bury in a comment thread.  Below (in blockquotes) is a copy of the commented quote left by Titfor Tat, followed by my response."

COMMENT FROM:Oh yeah!?, how could a loving God condemn someone to hell?".

TitforTat Says:
January 1st, 2009 at 6:07 pm

Hey Christopher

Happy New Year, heres something to maybe make you think a little. If you really want to think, get the book.

The idea that divine justice requires forgiveness accords very well with the New Testament analogy between God and a loving parent. It also illuminates in an intriguing way the nature of Gods opposition to sin. As the Augustinians see it, God opposes sin enough to punish it, but not enough to destroy it altogether; instead of destroying sin altogether, he merely confines it to a specially prepared region of his creation, known as hell, where he keeps it alive for an eternity. According to our alternative picture, however, God forgives sin for this very reason: In no other way could he oppose it with his entire being. For as the St. Paul saw so clearly, our specific sins express a sinful condition, and the latter is a form of spiritual death; it is simply our condition of being separated or estranged or alienated from God and from each other. So the opposite of a sinful condition is a state of reconciliation; and if that is so, then God cannot be against sin, cannot oppose it with his entire being, unless he is for reconciliation. And he can hardly be for reconciliation unless he is prepared to forgive others even as he has commanded us to forgive them. Indeed, if God should refuse to forgive someone, as is not even possible given his loving nature, he would then separate himself from this person; and that is the very essence of sin as Paul himself understood it.
Thomas Talbott …The inescapable Love of God

Christopher says:

Thanks and Happy New Year to you as well. I’m going to chew on this for a bit and get back with you.

Grace and peace be with you.

END OF COMMENT

POST/RESPONSE

Let us begin by addressing the assumption that "divine justice requires forgiveness". This assumption I believe is a spin on the same idea that because God is and does love; it precludes Him from allowing anyone to pay for the consequences of their own actions (sin). I say ‘allowing" because I believe a tendency of our naturally sinful selves is to shift responsibility or blame onto someone else. In Genesis, Adam illustrates this when confronted by God.

Genesis 3:11-12
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" 12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

In one breath Adam deflects his own culpability by managing to not only blame Eve, but seems to be implicating God as well… "The woman you put here with me"; forgetting that God had given him a specific command; "…I commanded you not to eat from?". (See also Genesis 2:15-17)  Eve wasn’t created yet when that command was given.

Returning back to divine justice requiring forgiveness however, it assumes that we deserve or are otherwise entitled to forgiveness. This thought proposes that without extending forgiveness God can’t be just nor administer justice. The question is his though: "Who’s understanding of justice are we talking about? - God’s or what man presumes to know of it?"  Notice in the following from Isaiah that God gives a specific response that man is to have towards Him, of which God will then respond back to man.

Isaiah 55:7-8
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

If we take Talbott’s notion of "divine justice requiring forgiveness" as a blanket statement,it presents a problem as then even Satan (See Isaiah 14:12-15) and his demons (fallen angels) should qualify for a pass. Is that justice - to allow the architect of chaos and sin a pass? Or perhaps Satan and crew don’t count in Talbott’s assessment of divine justice? The question would then be - "Why is it that Satan and his demons won’t be forgiven by God?"; since as Talbott states:

Indeed, if God should refuse to forgive someone, as is not even possible given his loving nature, he would then separate himself from this person; and that is the very essence of sin as Paul himself understood it.
Thomas Talbott - The Inescapable love of God

Talbott puts the  heat on God here, making it out that God is the one doing the separating from His creation.  Throughout the Bible though, as God is dealing with Israel, it is the nation of Israel that provokes God to divorce Himself of Israel due their adulteress actions (sin).  This same response from God was first shown in Genesis when God drove Adam out of the garden… because of his sin against God.

As did Adam, Talbott attempts to reverse the situation making God out to be "the bad guy".  Talbott is confused in his theology, the very essence of sin is that it is rebellion to what God has commanded; an act of disobedience (Adam) or defiance.(Lucifer/Satan).  It is that rebellion (sin) that causes us to be separated from God, because His nature is holy.

Speaking of separation and God’s nature… from the book of Romans, Paul the apostle warns of the coming wrath of God.  Paul makes it clear that God and His ways of righteousness are evident.

Romans 1:18-20
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

From the beginning; in the beginning, God seems to be making a point about separation.  I brought up Romans 1:18-20 as a parallel thought and to segue back to Genesis, to further illustrate a point concerning God’s holy nature. Building off of Romans 1:18-20, in Genesis 1:4, you have a  literal and metaphorical example, the metaphor referring to sin/evil.  Genesis 1:7 is another literal example of separation displayed in nature as an example of… "God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature.".

Genesis 1:4,7
4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.

7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.

Over 2500 years after Genesis (dates of Creation, The Fall of Man, The Noahic Flood, & The Tower of Babel unknown) Christ Himself has this to say about separation of sin from righteousness in the Parable of the Net.

Matthew 13:47-51
47 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 "Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.
      "Yes," they replied.

For Talbott to arrive at the position that in the end every one is forgiven and thus saved from eternal condemnation to Hell, Jesus has to therefore have lied.   Additionally Talbott’s position makes Christ’s crucifixion in vain, there’s no connection between the death of Jesus on the cross and the need to have a savior in Christ to atone for our sins.  Would you willing die for no reason, no purpose?

Romans 3:25-26
25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Colossians 1:19-20
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Here Talbott paints the opposite of sin as reconciliation.  The opposite of a sinful condition would be righteousness, as obedience is the opposite of disobedience, right is to wrong, holy is to wicked, and as light is to dark.  He tries to close the gap between sin and holiness with reconciliation.  Talbott fails to mention however that as sure as there is the potential for reconciliation, there first must come a response of repentance which affords justification, and the only way to be justified before God is through Christ.

Romans 3:21-24
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

"So the opposite of a sinful condition is a state of reconciliation; and if that is so, then God cannot be against sin, cannot oppose it with his entire being, unless he is for reconciliation…"
Thomas Talbott - The Inescapable love of God

Again in order for Talbott’s position to be true, it then insinuates that Jesus lied or was confused concerning the Parable of the Narrow and Wide Gates  He gave.  What then do we say concerning the words spoken by Jesus of separating The Sheep and The Goats as all the nations are gathered before Him in heaven?

Matthew 7:13-14
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 25:31-46
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left…. 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Talbott insists that all will then be given eternal life using the rationale that God has to forgive everyone since He is for reconciliation.  Reconciliation on the other hand is the effect of a repentant heart, justified through Christ. Adam was already in a right relationship with God, he was not reconciled to God prior to committing sin, because there was nothing to be made right until after he sinned against God.

Romans 3:21-24
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

"… And he can hardly be for reconciliation unless he is prepared to forgive others even as he has commanded us to forgive them."
Thomas Talbott - The Inescapable love of God

A few questions to meditate on:

• "If there’s no imminent danger or consequence why then the warnings against sin?"
• "Why then does God allow His Son to be murdered by His creation?".
• "If God was willing to let His Son die for our sakes (for reconciliation), why would He not allow man to in fact pay with his life for refusing to accept His grace?"
• "What is the rationale or purpose in this exercise of a blood payment for sin?"

God has made it perfectly clear in Romans 6:23 that "…the wages of sin is death." He’s made known what the conditions are for eternal life, as well as what’s at stake for those that do not repent from their  sin(s) and accept his gift of grace. 

John 3:16-18
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Romans 5:8-9
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

1st John 5:11-12
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

In the end, I don’t agree with Talbott’s perspective concerning God and His (God’s) method of administering justice.  It’s not that I feel it unfair of God to let some pass without meeting the standards while others are supposedly held to them per Talbott’s spin.  My reasons as already presented via Scripture are that Talbott goes beyond what Scripture  clearly reveals about God’s plan and means of reconciliation for humanity.  Talbott’s interpretation simply doesn’t line up with the Bible. Talbott it would appear has manufactured in his mind some new gospel not preached by Paul.  Furthermore, a brief visit to Talbott’s site revealed this link where he calls for "a universalist reading of the New Testament".  That said, I leave you with these words from Paul himself.

Galatians 1:6-10
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Ephesians 5:6-7
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

Grace and peace be with you.

I’ve been a Pittsburgh Steelers fan since about the age of ten, which means I jumped on that bandwagon at the peak of the Steel Curtain dynasty.  It also means that I along with other diehard Steelers fans old enough to remember, have endured some painful years throughout most of the 80’s and early 90’s as Steelers fans.

I recall many a Sunday having hope beyond hope that the likes of QBs Mark Malone, Bubby Brister or Kordell Stewart would lead the Steeler offense down the field for a game winning drive.  More times than not, hope is all that it turned out to be.

This past Sunday as I watched the Steelers slug it out with the Baltimore Ravens it finally occurred to me that the Steeler offense isn’t as terrible as I thought.  Since about 6 weeks into the season I’ve been kind of hard on the Steelers offense, not overly critical, but not having much confidence in it either.  Back in June or July when the official season schedules were posted, it was a unanimous vote by sports writers and football analysts that the Steelers had by far one of; if not the toughest schedule for the 2008 season.  A fact that seems to have proven itself true over the course of the season and one that I had either dismissed or forgotten (the latter being the more likely of the two).  And yet through it all the Steelers, due in no small part to their defense, has found a way to win.  In the last two weeks, I’ve watched the offense sputter along all afternoon long, and then, when the time was waning, and the team just had to have a drive produce for them, Big Ben and company manage to deliver.

That little fact of the Steelers being dealt such a tough schedule and their resilience in spite of both the schedule and the offensive ineffectiveness at times, reminds me of our walk with Christ.

Jesus tells us to go out throughout the world and make disciples of men, yet the reality of this task is that most of the world will follow it’s own way and perish rather than to accept, submit to and follow Jesus Christ.

Matthew 18:28-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 16:15
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus also tells us that the world will hate us, and that those that follow Him will be persecuted.

Matthew 10:22
22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Matthew 13:21
21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

The idea that what your selling isn’t desired by most folks along with the prospect of being the object of ridicule, persecution and hate would surely cause anyone to think twice before signing up for such a task.  The notion of sharing your faith with others, without confirmation of conviction might be discouraging as well.  But these are things that we shouldn’t personally dwell on.

Herm Edwards, former coach of the New York Jets once said in an after game conference about his team’s effort:  "We play to win the game."  I’d say that most NFL players take this type of attitude into the game each Sunday, playing to win, though they have no idea whether the outcome will be as they expect.  Victory however, is something that children of God have assurance of.

2nd Corinthians 4:1
1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

Grace and peace be with you.

Late last week some things went down at the office which I allowed myself to get emotionally jacked up over for a few days.  As is the usual case, it boils down to how well or not one relates with his or her neighbor(s).  What set me off last week basically amounted to misunderstandings and faulty perceptions over the wording in an email from a co-worker, over some things that I had dragged my feet on for a looooooooong time. It didn’t help matters that the co-worker and friend had been put under pressure which was in a small way projected my way.  The bottom line however is that I was wrong on my part for what amounted to being stubborn; I had valid objections, but just handled the situation wrong based on taking offense and becoming defensive.  After a few days of fuming, I finally allowed myself time to actually hear and listen to God’s Holy Spirit speaking to me on the matter, which occurred while reading the Bible Friday evening.  Here is what God’s word says about pride…

Obediah 1:3
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
       you who live in the clefts of the rocks [a]
       and make your home on the heights,
       you who say to yourself,
       ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’

Over the past 5 years I’ve had relationships of various types (friendships, romantic, marriage & family) that have had moments where I either offended someone or I was offended.  As the years have progressed, it’s become more and more evident as to the importance of repairing those relationships as quickly as possible, the importance understood more each time from a Biblical perspective of what God expects and demands.  This is good as I don’t anticipate having to wonder a desert for 40 years. 

Matthew 5:23-24
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

I feel blessed in that I didn’t choose to dwell too long on how insulted I felt, but rather understanding the spiritual implications of not righting this situation quickly (from past experiences); I was convicted to swallow my pride and submit to Godly correction.  I guess the main reason for even sharing this information is that I recall the spiritual wasteland that I was in for almost a year not so long ago when a "relationship" soured.  The worst part of that time was not the reliving of the hurt so much as it was the anger that ensued.  There was a constant battle, a desire to want to do the right thing by God,which was to truly forgive, yet my flesh was still wanting to lash out for retribution.  It seemed that if given the opportunity I’d feel better; that is of course a lie that the heart and Satan tells you.  It is in knowing the fallacy and accompanying dangers of that thought process, but most importantly knowing that God could and would get me through this that caused me to confess and ask forgiveness from my co-worker yesterday.

1st John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Grace and peace be with you.

Just thought I’d share the outline from Part 1of last night’s Bible study for the Young Adults group available…

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

I. What is Discernment?

From a Biblical perspective discernment implies scrutinizing for accuracy, validity or truthfulness, etc;.

Webster’s Dictionary defines discernment as:

1. To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.

2. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.

John MacArthur’s definition of discernment:

In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically.

First Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning: “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer-it is required.

Citation from “The Vital Importance of Biblical Discernment” by John MacArthur (http://bible.lightsource.com/11531806/)

II. Biblically speaking, what is the purpose of discernment?

1. To avoid being deceived

• 1st Timothy 1:3-4
• 1st Timothy 1:8-11 (Note verse 10! “contrary to sound doctrine”)
• Mark 13:5,22-23 (warnings directly from Jesus!)

2. To know and recognize the true Jesus Christ from the false christs (antichrists)

3. To distinguish Biblical fact from “fiction”, to recognize Orthodox Christian doctrine from worldview “religion”/man made doctrines

4. To be obedient to God and His Word

• 1st John 4:1
• Ephesians 5:6-7
• Colossians 2:8

5. To become matured Christians

• Wisdom - James 3:13-17
• Discipline
• Discretion
• Knowledge - Ephesians 4:12-16

6. Love (1st Timothy 1:3-5 Note verse 5!)

1st Timothy 1:3-5
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

III. Why study and discuss discernment?

1. The Bible tells us to be discerning (1st Thessalonians 5:21-22, 1st John 4:1)
2. To be obedient to God and His Word (1st John 4:1, Ephesians 5:6-7, Colossians 2:8)
3. To become matured Christians (Ephesians 4:12-16, 1st Timothy 1:3-5)
4. Concerns over the many misleading spiritual leaders, sects, movements, and religions masquerading as being of God and “Christian” in the Orthodox sense.

IV. Warnings directly from Jesus!

Matthew 24:4
4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.

Mark 13:22-23
22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

Luke 21:8
8 He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

V. How does one become a discerning Christian?

1. Discernment is imparted by the Holy Spirit - 1st Corinthians 2:12-14

• Not “learned” or “taught” from self-help or self-esteem books
• Not based on our wisdom (human intellect) nor solely on our experiences See: Proverbs 3:5-6

1. Referring to the Bible for direction & spiritual nurturing
2. Relying on God’s wisdom, not ours - 1st Corinthians 1:25-30
3. Habitual prayer and reading of God’s Word - it’s vital that this is a regular part of your daily walk with Christ
4. Application of what God’s Word says, to your life
   These are components of spiritual nurturing which result in spiritual maturation.

Grace and peace be with you

Hopefully this doesn’t come off as a disconnected thought.  A few days ago there was a post that briefly touched on how one’s attitude can be affected by the workings of life, how guilt can set in from experiencing certain pressures.  Today’s post is a continuation.

One of the "guilts" that we can become affected by is buying into the belief of not being worthy of God’s grace because we do still commit sin(s). True enough that sin is sin.  What I’m going for is the idea that though sin is our nature, and from time to time each of us will stumble; stumbling (even repeatedly), however shouldn’t be cause to not persevere in pursuit of Christ’s glory.

As I have come to understand God’s grace, stumbling over sin is not the same as practicing living a sinful life.  I think that what it comes down to is God’s Holy Spirit causing a progressive aversion to sin in the Christian’s life.  For anyone that does or has consumed alcohol, think back to the first taste. Initially, the beer, liquor or wine probably tasted terrible at first. Sort of like drinking Vicks vapor rub in liquid form.  Over time & repeated consumption, the harshness of the alcohol became palatable.  In a like manner, since by our very nature we are predisposed to being a sinful creature, becoming a Christian doesn’t automatically make one not susceptible to temptation or sin.  What we are akin to practice as the old creation does not pass away without the flesh putting up a fight;  It takes Christ and time to progress to living a righteous life.

Back in the Old Testament times, God made provisions to the Jews regarding unintentional sin (the Guilt Offering) in Leviticus 5:14-19, Numbers 15:22-31, & Deuteronomy 4:40-43, in addition to His decrees for deliberate sin.  The writer of Hebrews in so many words offers this contrast and distinction…

Hebrews 10:26-27
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Reading the first few words from the writer of Hebrews 10:26: "If we deliberately keep on sinning"; tells me that what’s implied here is the practice of sinful living.  I think that this verse is basically an indictment against anyone professing to be a Christian who, still walks in the world.  The person has made a conscious decision to continue to live in opposition to what Jesus Christ is, and represents.  The sense of guilt for sinning therefore is probably void in this person’s mind & on their heart whereas the person earnestly striving to live a Christ centered life does in fact feel guilty (grieved) because they are made aware of their shortcomings by the Holy Spirit operating in their life.  

Again, for the Christian that struggles or stumbles with sin, and feels the accusations of guilt upon them; consider this as the Holy Spirit attempting to convict your heart to turn to Christ, not telling you that you’re not worthy or able to be perfected in Christ.  Guilt is not a signal to throw in the towel, which is what the devil desires to happen.  Guilty feelings or attitudes can arise as the flesh rebels with accusations & lies against God’s Holy Spirit revealing of sin in a Christian’s life.  This is one reason why I believe that Paul explains in Ephesians 6:16 to take on the Shield of Faith, faith that God’s love, His grace and mercy, have and will cover the sins of the truly repentant.

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

See, if one is not careful, those flaming arrows of doubt, lies & deceit that guilt shoots at you, will find their mark in your heart, backing you into a corner possibly convincing you that you’re not worthy of God’s grace.  The latter part of Hebrews 10:27 clearly tells us that if one believes what "guilt" says, then there is only "a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire" because one has deliberately chosen to become an enemy of God.  God’s Word counters Satan’s accusations of guilt, hopelessness & unworthiness of forgiveness with revelation of sin, correction of behavior and sinful  attitudes through His Word & assurance through Christ .  God’s Word gives assurance of His grace and mercy (Salvation) which is where our faith is held; in spite of the false propaganda that guilt attempts to plant in one’s mind:

1st John 5:11-12
11 And this is the testimony, God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son of God has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Grace and peace be with you.