Dealing with sins of past
Back in high school I made a huge mistake of having sex with one guy. I didnāt know Christ fully, but I came to Christ three years later. But the past still haunts me. Iām 23, still single and havenāt dated since then. Is it possible of bearing the consequences now for my past sin, even though Iāve gotten baptized and have been serving at church? Does God ever punish us for past sin, or is that the enemy sending those thoughts?
Satan thrives on accusing Christians of their sins (Revelation 12:10). Thankfully, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became man to destroy the devilās work (1 John 3:8). Jesus did just that by resisting Satanās temptations (Matthew 4:1-11) and by crushing him (Genesis 3:15) through his atonement for sin and triumphant resurrection from the dead.
The comforting message of the Bible is that āThere is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesusā (Romans 8:1). Jesus Christ was punished for your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). God does not punish Christians for sins they commit. God may discipline his children (Hebrews 12), but his motive is love and correction not punishment.
āIf we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousnessā (I John 1:9). It sounds like you have confessed the sin that remains in your memory. With that being the case, cling to the gospel message that your sins are forgiven.
When God forgives sins, he blots them out of his memory (Isaiah 43:25). The fact that you can remember your sin from the past does not mean that your sin is not forgiven. It meansāin a senseāthat you have a better memory than God.
I encourage you to use Godās gospel in word and sacrament faithfully to grow in the confidence and conviction that God has forgiven all your sins for Jesusā sake. Remember your baptism. In it, God clothed you with the garments of salvation Jesus won for you by his holy life and innocent death (Galatians 3:26-27). Seek the counsel of your pastor or other trusted Christian counselor if you need further assistance in dealing with the past. God bless you!