The Samaritan

By Jeffrey Holtan

From personal experience to the words and works of Jesus, this book is a help to all who struggle with the guilt of sin. Read how the debilitating guilt over sin is overcome in Jesus. This book will take you on a journey from the depths of sadness to the joy of forgiveness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512766271

Jeffrey Holtan

The author is uniquely qualified to share insights on recovery from guilt. He spent almost two decades helping others overcome guilt as a Christian pastor. In addition, he struggled through his own battle with guilt after committing a sin that ended his ministry. He uses his experience and the testimony of scripture to point you to Christ, who takes away your guilt.

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Copyright © 2016 Jeffrey Holtan.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-6626-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6627-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016919617

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/30/2016

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

A Warning Word To The Wise

The Sin

Why The Samaritan?

What Is This Really All About?

You Are Forgiven—Treasure It!

Accused—Condemned—Acquitted—Compelled

The Samaritan Way Of Life

Endnotes

This book is

dedicated to Jesus Christ

who loves me from eternity

and to my wife, Deb, who loves me every day.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I

T IS ONLY BY

the grace of God that I write these words. God, in his grace, used a number of Christian brothers and sisters to call me out of the darkness of despair to the light of forgiveness. The following brothers and sisters in Christ served me as instruments of God’s grace: Mary Holtan, Daniel Deutschlander, Richard Phillipsen, Kris Eggers, Virginia Cartwright, Darrell Roecker, and Robert Holtan. I also thank my children, Abigail, Magdalene, and Caleb, for sharing the gift of forgiveness with me. A special thanks to these agents of grace!

PREFACE

A

S I STRUGGLED THROUGH

a time of horrible guilt, I looked for something to help me along the way. I found a few people who helped me tremendously. I found a number of Bible passages that filled me with comfort when I needed it. I found a few passages in some books that grabbed my attention. I found a few hymn stanzas that soothed my soul. What I did not find was a resource directed to my struggle with guilt. So, with the help of God and the encouragement of my family, I decided to share my experience with the world. If you or someone you know is suffering from guilt over a sin or sins they have committed, this book is meant to speak to you or your friend. I don’t profess to have all the answers. However, I offer the one answer that helps the most – Jesus Christ. Please give this short work a read. Consider it a travel guide through the challenging journey of guilt. I pray this account helps you to know the forgiveness that is yours in Christ.

A WARNING WORD TO THE WISE

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

—Proverbs 16:18

"I

WOULD NEVER DO THAT!

No matter what happens, I will remain faithful! Have similar words passed over your lips? We can be so self-assured. We can be so bold and certain. We think that we can single-handedly take on Satan and his allies. But friends, consider life apart from the delusion of sinful pride. Peter and his cohorts were convinced beyond any doubt that they would boldly stand with Jesus, even to the point of death. They were quite certain they would not even consider fleeing from him to save themselves. Even after Jesus warned Peter, Truly, I tell you, this very night before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times, Peter still insisted, If I must die with you, I will not deny you. All the other disciples said the same thing. But how did this really turn out? Peter ended up saying, I don’t know this man of whom you speak. As those words left his mouth, the rooster crowed for the second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times!’ And he broke down and wept."1 Pride preceded the fall. The fall brought