"[Jesus] I have failed you so many times but you always tell me to “get back up”..Your grace and mercy is so so awesome that I can’t even explain..Thank you for shedding your blood that covers all my sins past and present..I just want to say I love you [Jesus] with all me heart."
This is a quote from a Christian regarding the forgiveness of sins as it pertains to a music video on the subject. Sounds great, right? Yes it does, but it is incomplete. It is incomplete because it denies the completeness of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Saints, Jesus died for our past, present and future sins at the cross. He didn't die only for the sins you committed prior to accepting Him as your Savior only to leave it up to you to get yourself forgiven from that point on. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb 9:22). Hebrews 10:17-18 reminds us that we "have been forgiven" and there is "no more sacrifice for sin." This means to put away your confession booths, short accounts, altar calls, repeating the Lord's Prayer, acts of penance, 1 John 1:9ing, rosary beads or whatever it is you do to receive more forgiveness. They are only sacrifices that are no longer required or accepted by God. In Christ we have forgiveness of sin (Eph. 1:7). God's forgiveness is not conditional on our ability to forgive others, but we forgive others as we have been forgiven (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13). Your sins do not separate you from God. Nothing separates us from the love of God (Rom 8:39). You don't lose fellowship with God when you sin. "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Cor 1:9)."
We are at peace with God (Rom 5:1). If you believe your sins still come between you and God you are not at peace. We have been called to rest (Heb 4:9). You are not at rest if you are still trying to get forgiveness for your sins. We have been given access to approach the throne of grace with confidence (Heb 4:16). You can't approach God if you believe your sins come between you. Christ's death purchased "eternal redemption (Heb 9:12)." When Jesus died He said "it is finished (Jn 19:30). God is not counting our sins against us (2 Cor 5:19). If all this is true why are we still counting our sins against ourselves? It is the grace of God that teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12). It is not our self-righteous acts which don't promote any internal change and leave us powerless against our sins. You are forgiven. You are holy, without blemish and free from accusation (Col. 1:22). Don't let anybody, whether it be Satan, a fellow Christian, yourself or a music video tell you otherwise. Jesus died once and for all (Heb 9:26). Any attempts at obtaining more forgiveness is insulting the Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29). Jesus is coming back to get you not bear your sin again (Heb 9:28).
You will never mature in your faith, never grow and never experience God's love until you realize you are forgiven. I "implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20)." Be blessed!
No comments:
Post a Comment