“Faith and Forgiveness”
One of the challenges I face when we do a specific theme throughout the month is to keep it fresh and engaging. This month as we continue to study God’s forgiveness towards us I pray we will all be encouraged and grow in our understanding of this marvelous truth. Satan is a liar and he will attempt to make us question and doubt the Lord’s forgiveness towards every believer. When we doubt God’s forgiveness we begin to work hard to justify or prove ourselves to God and others. We are no longer living in the freedom Christ provided on the cross. We fall back into the bondage and chains of sin.
Today we read the words of the Apostle John (inspired by God). Once again he makes it crystal clear concerning God’s forgiveness for all who believe.
1 John 2:12
I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
My friend, are you a child of God? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ? If you can confidently answer yes to these two questions, your sins have been forgiven through Jesus! You see faith in Jesus and forgiveness go hand and hand! You cannot experience one without the other.
Something I diligently attempt to do when reading, writing or preaching God’s truth is to tie it all together. It is extremely dangerous to read one verse and build a belief or doctrine out of it. God’s Word does not create confusion or conflict it will compliment and confirm itself. Therefore I would like to share another verse that will confirm today’s verse.
1 Corinthians 6:11
Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The Apostle Paul is speaking to those who have placed their faith in Jesus. They have trusted in the finished work of the cross. Once again, are you a child of God? If you said yes, then you have been cleansed, you were made holy, made right with God. How did all this happen? By calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. You placed your faith in Jesus but not on your own. God’s Spirit called you, He drew you to Himself. No man can come to the Father unless He draws you. This is why salvation and forgiveness is gift.
My friends, as a child of God you are forgiven! You have been set free from the power of sin and death. Live and rejoice in that freedom today! Your faith that leads to obedience will declare the glory of God!
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