Renewed innocence

The moment you receive salvation, the moment you have the forgiveness of sins, you received restored, internal innocence. More than likely, Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. He was a mass murderer and created “havoc” in the church: “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison…Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2) He did it all in the name of God, though in unbelief. 

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17) 

Paul was a wicked man before coming face to face with Christ. He was killing and destroying Christ’s body. Yet God restored to him a new innocence. Without forgiveness and the power of clean conscience made possible by the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, we collect sin and build that sin into a great debt of guilt. And guilt drives people crazy. Half the people that have any kind of mental breakdown, have it because of guilt. It builds up. 

But when Christ comes into your life, he sprinkles his blood on you. And you feel brand new. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) It doesn’t matter how much you have sinned. It doesn’t matter how bad you previous life was, He makes you new, and brings into your conscience an innocence that you once had.