Shame, guilt, and regret can make us feel like we are still paying for our past mistakes, but Jesus paid for our sins once and for all. Through His sacrifice on the cross, we can receive God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and freedom from condemnation rather than trying to earn our way back into God’s favor.

When guilt makes you feel unworthy of God’s love, Scripture reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus is our Savior, Advocate, and Intercessor, and His sacrifice makes reconciliation with God possible. Discover what it means to stop carrying the weight of sins Christ has already paid for and learn how His grace can replace shame with freedom, hope, and peace.

Highlights
Why the belief that we must “pay for our sins” is not biblical
How Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid the penalty for our sins
The difference between God’s discipline, consequences, and condemnation
Why shame and guilt can make us feel like we need to earn God’s forgiveness
What Romans 8:1 teaches about freedom from condemnation in Christ
How God’s grace saves us through faith rather than our good works
Why Jesus serves as our Advocate and intercedes for us before God
How to respond when suffering makes us wonder if God is punishing us for our sins

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Resources Mentioned

Song of Reflection #1: “Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #2: “Jesus Paid It All” by Fernando Ortega. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #3: “East to West” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #4: “Mercy Tree” by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it HERE.

Full Transcript Below:

Jesus Paid for Our Sins

By Alexis A. Goring

Bible Reading:
“He does not treat us as our sins deserve. He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds.” - Psalm 103:10 EHV

When someone was having a bad day, he said, “I am paying for my sins.” 

This statement and belief many people hold is not true because the Bible says Jesus Christ paid it all (1 Peter 2:24, Romans 6:23) and God doesn’t deal with us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). 

I know that I have struggled with this when shame, guilt, and despair hit me as my mind recalls everything I said or did wrong. While God doesn’t keep a record of our sins after we ask Him to forgive us, we sure can tally up everything in our minds. When we do that, it feels like we must pay for our sins. We may feel remorse and want to fix things. But the truth is, we cannot fix the past, the present, or our future. This is one of the reasons why we need Jesus Christ in our lives. He is our Savior.

God is full of grace and mercy. While He will discipline us like a loving parent would (Hebrews 12:5-6), and while there are always consequences to our sins that we might experience, never do we have to feel the need to pay for our sins because Christ already did that on the Cross at Calvary. The Bible says He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we may be reconciled to God. 

Isn’t that wonderful to know? What a relief that our Savior has already done the heavy lifting. We just need to repent of our sins, turn away from our sins, believe in God, obey the Holy Spirit, and follow Jesus all the way to Heaven. When I shared with a Christian friend my struggle of feeling burdened by my past mistakes and sins, she reminded me of Romans 8:1-2 (NIV). It says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

The first time she told me this, I struggled to believe it because I felt guilty as charged concerning my sins and mistakes. I wanted to make things right with God. I felt like I had to work my way back into His grace and mercy. But the Bible doesn’t say that. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” God knows we’re not perfect because we’re only human. Even our best efforts to be perfect may eventually fail. No matter how hard we try, we cannot work our way into Heaven by our righteous acts and desire to please God. The Bible says in Isaiah 64:6 (NIV), “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” But thank God for His grace and mercy! He knows we need it. 

The Bible says that Christ is our Advocate when we sin and are guilty as charged (1 John 2:1). He knows we’re not perfect, and He wants to help us. The Bible says that Jesus is at the right hand of God, interceding for us (Romans 8:34). Jesus reminds God about His sacrifice for us (John 3:16-17). We are covered by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7) so that God sees His perfect Son (Jesus) when He looks at us, not our imperfections and sins. Though this is not an excuse to keep sinning and take advantage of God’s grace, because eventually, time will run out, and when we see Jesus returning to earth to take His children home to Heaven, it will be too late to repent and ask forgiveness for our sins (Revelation 22:11-15).

Let’s circle back to my original point, which I mentioned at the start of this devotional, about feeling like we suffer because we are paying the penalty for our sins. Oftentimes, we as humans believe that if we are suffering, then it is because God is punishing us for our sins. I invite you to dig deeper into this common misconception and receive an accurate Biblical perspective by listening to this “Dare to Be True” podcast episode hosted by Madison Prewett Troutt, where Anne Graham Lotz explains the truth about suffering and helps you realize that God isn’t making you pay for your sins by subjecting you to pain.

In closing, I’d like for you to listen to and reflect on these four songs…

Song of Reflection #1: “Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #2: “Jesus Paid It All” by Fernando Ortega. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #3: “East to West” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #4: “Mercy Tree” by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it HERE.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

How does it feel to know that we don’t have to pay for our sins because we have a Savior who paid for all of it? 

Further Reading:

Psalm 103:11-14

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 
Romans 5:10
Colossians 1:21-22

Shame, guilt, and regret can make us feel like we are still paying for our past mistakes, but Jesus paid for our sins once and for all. Through His sacrifice on the cross, we can receive God&rsquo;s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and freedom from condemnation rather than trying to earn our way back into God&rsquo;s favor.
When guilt makes you feel unworthy of God&rsquo;s love, Scripture reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus is our Savior, Advocate, and Intercessor, and His sacrifice makes reconciliation with God possible. Discover what it means to stop carrying the weight of sins Christ has already paid for and learn how His grace can replace shame with freedom, hope, and peace.
Highlights
<ul data-start="923" data-end="1497">
<li data-section-id="x6hyo2" data-start="923" data-end="987">Why the belief that we must &ldquo;pay for our sins&rdquo; is not biblical</li>
<li data-section-id="1qw21ys" data-start="988" data-end="1053">How Jesus&rsquo; sacrifice on the cross paid the penalty for our sins</li>
<li data-section-id="1rbaul4" data-start="1054" data-end="1131">The difference between God&rsquo;s discipline, consequences, and condemnation</li>
<li data-section-id="1xdat1p" data-start="1132" data-end="1209">Why shame and guilt can make us feel like we need to earn God&rsquo;s forgiveness</li>
<li data-section-id="54q2dw" data-start="1210" data-end="1277">What Romans 8:1 teaches about freedom from condemnation in Christ</li>
<li data-section-id="2s1phf" data-start="1278" data-end="1345">How God&rsquo;s grace saves us through faith rather than our good works</li>
<li data-section-id="bcjd5i" data-start="1346" data-end="1413">Why Jesus serves as our Advocate and intercedes for us before God</li>
<li data-section-id="1lno2rb" data-start="1414" data-end="1497">How to respond when suffering makes us wonder if God is punishing us for our sins</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
Resources Mentioned
Song of Reflection #1:&nbsp;&ldquo;Jesus Messiah&rdquo; by Chris Tomlin.&nbsp;Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/tdxSC1tHJn0?si=MXbe76-fLh2lk60S">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #2: &ldquo;Jesus Paid It All&rdquo; by Fernando Ortega. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/mNc7W8VsVMw?si=LdGWT-NZI51sUlsb">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #3: &ldquo;East to West&rdquo; by Casting Crowns. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/TnkkZLdjf9Y?si=_R9UCXhQsmdCmVnM">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #4: &ldquo;Mercy Tree&rdquo; by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/hrgl9z3grKU?si=c6_18DhouesnNZsq">HERE</a>.
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Jesus Paid for Our Sins
By Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading: &ldquo;He does not treat us as our sins deserve.&nbsp;He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds.&rdquo; - Psalm 103:10 EHV
When someone was having a bad day, he said, &ldquo;I am paying for my sins.&rdquo;&nbsp;
This statement and belief many people hold is not true because the Bible says Jesus Christ paid it all (1 Peter 2:24, Romans 6:23) and God doesn&rsquo;t deal with us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10).&nbsp;
I know that I have struggled with this when shame, guilt, and despair hit me as my mind recalls everything I said or did wrong. While God doesn&rsquo;t keep a record of our sins after we ask Him to forgive us, we sure can tally up everything in our minds. When we do that, it feels like we must pay for our sins. We may feel remorse and want to fix things. But the truth is, we cannot fix the past, the present, or our future. This is one of the reasons why we need Jesus Christ in our lives. He is our Savior.
God is full of grace and mercy. While He will discipline us like a loving parent would (Hebrews 12:5-6), and while there are always consequences to our sins that we might experience, never do we have to feel the need to pay for our sins because Christ already did that on the Cross at Calvary. The Bible says He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we may be reconciled to God.&nbsp;
Isn&rsquo;t that wonderful to know? What a relief that our Savior has already done the heavy lifting. We just need to repent of our sins, turn away from our sins, believe in God, obey the Holy Spirit, and follow Jesus all the way to Heaven. When I shared with a Christian friend my struggle of feeling burdened by my past mistakes and sins, she reminded me of Romans 8:1-2 (NIV). It says, &ldquo;Therefore, there is now no condemnation&nbsp;for those who are in Christ Jesus,&nbsp;because through Christ Jesus&nbsp;the law of the Spirit who gives life&nbsp;has set you free&nbsp;from the law of sin&nbsp;and death.&rdquo;
The first time she told me this, I struggled to believe it because I felt guilty as charged concerning my sins and mistakes. I wanted to make things right with God. I felt like I had to work my way back into His grace and mercy. But the Bible doesn&rsquo;t say that. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) says, &ldquo;For it is by grace&nbsp;you have been saved,&nbsp;through faith&mdash;and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God&mdash;not by works,&nbsp;so that no one can boast.&rdquo; God knows we&rsquo;re not perfect because we&rsquo;re only human. Even our best efforts to be perfect may eventually fail. No matter how hard we try, we cannot work our way into Heaven by our righteous acts and desire to please God. The Bible says in Isaiah 64:6 (NIV), &ldquo;All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous&nbsp;acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.&rdquo; But thank God for His grace and mercy! He knows we need it.&nbsp;
The Bible says that Christ is our Advocate when we sin and are guilty as charged (1 John 2:1). He knows we&rsquo;re not perfect, and He wants to help us. The Bible says that Jesus is at the right hand of God, interceding for us (Romans 8:34). Jesus reminds God about His sacrifice for us (John 3:16-17). We are covered by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7) so that God sees His perfect Son (Jesus) when He looks at us, not our imperfections and sins. Though this is not an excuse to keep sinning and take advantage of God&rsquo;s grace, because eventually, time will run out, and when we see Jesus returning to earth to take His children home to Heaven, it will be too late to repent and ask forgiveness for our sins (Revelation 22:11-15).
Let&rsquo;s circle back to my original point, which I mentioned at the start of this devotional, about feeling like we suffer because we are paying the penalty for our sins. Oftentimes, we as humans believe that if we are suffering, then it is because God is punishing us for our sins. I invite you to dig deeper into this common misconception and receive an accurate Biblical perspective by listening to this <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qR6aOjZNqSL5weonMGpF0?si=pVUKqi8DRHmigEUV_MGQIg">&ldquo;Dare to Be True&rdquo; podcast episode</a> hosted by Madison Prewett Troutt, where Anne Graham Lotz explains the truth about suffering and helps you realize that God isn&rsquo;t making you pay for your sins by subjecting you to pain.
In closing, I&rsquo;d like for you to listen to and reflect on these four songs&hellip;
Song of Reflection #1: &ldquo;Jesus Messiah&rdquo; by Chris Tomlin.&nbsp;Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/tdxSC1tHJn0?si=MXbe76-fLh2lk60S">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #2: &ldquo;Jesus Paid It All&rdquo; by Fernando Ortega. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/mNc7W8VsVMw?si=LdGWT-NZI51sUlsb">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #3: &ldquo;East to West&rdquo; by Casting Crowns. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/TnkkZLdjf9Y?si=_R9UCXhQsmdCmVnM">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #4: &ldquo;Mercy Tree&rdquo; by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/hrgl9z3grKU?si=c6_18DhouesnNZsq">HERE</a>.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
How does it feel to know that we don&rsquo;t have to pay for our sins because we have a Savior who paid for all of it?&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Psalm 103:11-14
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Romans 5:10 Colossians 1:21-22

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Jesus Paid for Our Sins

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/fb7e48a5-8b07-43fe-830b-b4a40120b580/transcript