I'm told a great majority of those in mental institutions are there because of guilt; something they've done in their past they cannot rid themselves of. No Christian should ever have what has come to be known as "a guilt complex." If a Believer had no other text to lean on, Hebrews 9:14 would be more than sufficient to hold him or her up, "How much more shall the blood of Christ...purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
Guilt in the saints' lives will be used against them in one of two ways: first, either the devil will constantly bring it up to keep one back from going forward; or, secondly, self-seeking loved ones or friends (intentionally or unintentionally) will regularly mention it in order to hold you down; that they may be in control of your life. One way or the other, you lose all your effective potential for God.
Peter denied the Lord but repented with tears. After that dark experience he never mentioned it again. Yet, after Pentecost, he accuses his brethren of denying the holy and just One. He did not fall for the sick idea he had no right to condemn others for what he himself had done. He lived by the scriptural philosophy, "What God hath cleansed let no man call unclean." He didn't accuse himself or allow anyone else to do so! He was cleansed and forgiven. THAT WAS IT!
A.W. Tozer mentions that when God cleanses and forgives a man it is as if he had been newly created; like he had never sinned. It is true, as John tells us, the accuser of our souls accuses us to God night and day. But just as true, says old John, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Throne. And, by the way, He has never lost a case!
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