Forgiven

What some of the most powerful men in the world are unable to do, God does…every day. Today’s passage, written to believers, reminds us of God’s amazing grace. When we come to him in confession (sorrowful for our sin), he forgives us and wipes away the mess from our hearts. When we acknowledge our sin, he will forgive us every time.

All of us have something in common with Velma Thomas. We were dead. We were dead in our sins. There was no sign of spiritual brain activity. We were helpless, hopeless. But then God came to our spiritual bedside. Here’s how Paul describes it.

The fear of insignificance must be confronted. Positive self-talk won’t do it. A TED talk on individual value will fall short. Only the truth of God’s Word, impressed by God’s Spirit, can move us to find significance. Through the understanding of God’s Word, we switch the focus from who we are to Whose we are.

It was going to be a tough meeting. Those sitting around the table had some real issues with each other. You could feel the tension—so thick you could cut it with a knife, as the saying goes. I knew this time together could blow up in my face.

When we trust in Jesus, the old is gone; the new has come. We are forgiven of our past and adopted into the eternal King’s family. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life of obedience. Our position in Christ gives us significance, security, and acceptance. We do not have to follow the instincts of our old lives.  

Jesus is your strong tower today, tomorrow, and throughout eternity. Run to him and experience his embrace. He will never let you go.

This is the comfort that comes from understanding that your sin is forgiven.

Because of Jesus we appear before God forgiven and restored.

Each part of temptation is dangerous enough. Don’t let them add up to sin.