Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 2 Samuel 12:7 (NASB 1995 update)
When I was on the inside (prison slang for being confined in a prison) a lot of inmates asked me, “Hey Rev, I know what I did was wrong, and I’m paying the price for my actions. I also feel guilty about the crime I committed. Doesn’t my acknowledgment of my wrong, acceptance of my actions, and feeling guilty square me with God?” I want to clarify something here. These men were not intent on playing the inmate game. They were in my office with a genuine concern about reaching heaven.
When this occurred, I always turned to 2 Samuel chapter eleven. Then starting with verse one and continuing through verse seven of chapter twelve, I read them the story about Bathsheba and David. I asked them “Do you think David, a man after God’s own heart, was never bothered about committing adultery or plotting a murder? Do you think that he was not sorry for what he had done? My feeling is that David was full of guilt and shame. But that was not enough because he failed to acknowledge his sin before God. When Nathan condemned him, he knew in his heart what he needed to do and he wrote out a heartfelt prayer to God. That prayer is found in chapter fifty-one of the book of Psalms.”
Usually, the men in my office were silent as they compared themselves to David. Then they would ask what they should do. I stated that we were in a state facility and that if I answered them, I would talk about Jesus Christ. Each of them agreed to that condition. I then explained about sin, what Christ did, and what our actions needed to be. I let them know that the only way to heaven was through Jesus. I told them that being sorry, taking responsibility, and feeling guilty was a step in the right direction. However, they needed to take the additional steps of accepting Christ as their Savior and asking for forgiveness.
This same truth applies to us. It is not about what we feel, it is about what we do. We need to ask for forgiveness for the wrong things we do. Then we need to accept that Christ forgives us. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)