A person can be changed for good from past guilt and sins.
Thérèse of Lisieux was a joyful and carefree child—until her mother died when she was just four years old. She became timid and easily agitated. But many years later on Christmas Eve, all of that changed. Later she experienced God releasing her from her fear and giving her joy. This change was credited to the power of Jesus, son of God and through His dwelling in her.
What does it mean for Christ to dwell within us? (Colossians 1:26) “The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the LORD’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Because Christ now dwelled in the Colossians, they experienced the joy of new life. No longer were they enslaved to the old self of sin.
If we’ve asked Jesus to be our Savior, we too live out this mystery of His dwelling in us. Through His Spirit, He can release us from fear, as He did in Thérèse, and grow within us the fruit of His Spirit. (Galatians 5:22–23) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”