“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:13-14).

I know what it is to struggle with a guilty conscience. I suspect I’m not the only one. So many believers struggle with guilt over things they have done in the past. They’ve come to Jesus for forgiveness but still battle to forgive themselves.

Religious ceremony alone isn’t the answer. As Jesus told the Pharisees, just cleaning the outside of a cup doesn’t mean that the inside is clean. Religion focuses on the external; Jesus cleans us from the inside out. Real cleansing of our consciences comes from the power of the blood of Christ. I never want to forget these words: “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ…cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death.” If we can only grasp the power of the blood of Christ we can overcome guilt for the rest of our lives. The blood of Christ is one hundred percent effective in cleansing a guilty conscience.

Why is that important? Because guilt can keep us from serving the living God. We become so obsessed with our own condition that we aren’t able to bring others to freedom. If you were moving and I showed up with a couch on my back I wouldn’t be able to help you move your furniture.

Let’s come to Christ, believe what the Bible says about His blood cleansing our consciences and get about the business of encouraging others and helping those who are struggling come to a living, triumphant faith.