Posted on 07/26/2015 12:28:39 PM PDT by metmom
Right now you may be feeling guilty about one thing or another: what you said to your spouse last night, those unrelenting thoughts, something you did years ago and regret, actual lying and cheating. What do you do with this guilt? Do you try to ignore it? Bury it? Would you like to know how to handle it for good, how to find true and lasting forgiveness?
Let me give you an important principle for believers: Definition is a prerequisite to recovery. In other words, if you can define a problem, you can usually deal with it. Vague anxiety without definition of its source will simply wipe you out. It’s important to define the problem before you do anything else. Let’s define forgiveness based on Hebrews 10:1-18. Is true forgiveness even possible?
The Requirement for Forgiveness
To receive forgiveness, we must be sanctified, set apart to God. A lot of people try to make Christian principles work before they become Christians. When Jesus spoke to his disciples, one provision always followed upon the heels of his counsel: You must be a disciple of Jesus in order to reap the benefits of discipleship.
When Jesus said, “My peace I give to you,” “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you,” “Though he die, yet shall he live” or “I am with you always,” he was only talking to a certain kind of person. Those are not universal statements applicable to everyone; they are meant only for his everlasting family. So, a word of caution: Forgiveness is only for those who have gone to the only One who can forgive, Jesus Christ.
The Reality of Forgiveness
The forgiveness Christ offers is the real thing; it’s not a mere shadow or a copy. Let me illustrate what I mean. If I am really thirsty, one of the most arresting pictures I can see is a picture of a glass of cold water. The picture may be beautiful, it may make me think or daydream about a glass of water, but it is not a real glass of cold water. No matter how nice or realistic the picture, it is just that, a picture. In the same way, Christ’s forgiveness really makes you clean and free. You are forgiven. That is reality.
The Remedy Toward Forgiveness
Forgiveness doesn’t come cheap; it never has and it never will. If I punch you in the nose and you decide to forgive me, that forgiveness costs something—a hurting, damaged nose. There’s a sense in which all forgiveness is vicarious, substitutionary, one for another. Forgiveness always costs somebody something. In the case of the forgiveness offered by God, it cost him his Son. Christ took your place. His death means that you don’t have to die. Remember the cost.
The Reliability of Forgiveness
“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Forgiveness is a fact because the One in authority, even Jesus Christ, says it is a fact. No data, no situation, no tragedy, no governmental decree, no military effort…nothing can ever change it.
There was once a doctor in a mining town who had many patients who simply couldn’t pay their bills. When they couldn’t pay, the doctor wrote “Canceled” beside their debts in his books. Years later, when the physician died, his widow tried to collect on those debts by taking the past debtors to court. But the court replied, “If your husband said that their debt is canceled, it is canceled and can never be claimed again.” Likewise, the King who rules has declared you “Forgiven.” No one can change that fact.
The Reach of Forgiveness
The reach of forgiveness is vast, “once for all” (verse 10). Jesus forgave every sin you have ever committed, every sin you are committing, and every sin you will ever commit. How about that? Corrie ten Boom described it, “Jesus takes your sin, past, present and future, dumps it in the ocean and puts up a sign that reads ‘No Fishing.’” That is so true. Christ has given forgiveness as far into the future as our lives will reach. And he has given forgiveness into the past as far back as our lives have been lived. We really are free.
I know what you’re thinking: Well, does that mean I can do anything I want and I’m already forgiven? Yes, that’s what it means. In that case, I’m going out right now to really sin, since it’s forgiven anyway. You may do that, but if you do, you haven’t understood the motivation of love. I don’t try to be obedient because he will zap me if I’m not. I try to be obedient because he loved me when I wasn’t. I’m constrained by his love, not by his judgment.
The Reminder of Forgiveness
In Hebrews 10:17 God says, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
There was a bishop who was a confessor for a nun. One day the nun told him that Christ had revealed himself to her in person. The bishop, understandably doubtful about her vision, said to her, “I have some instructions for you. The next time Christ appears to you, I want you to ask him about the sins of the archbishop.” The nun said, “Of course.”
So the next time, in a period of confession, the bishop said to the nun, “Well, did you ask Christ about the sins of the archbishop?” She said, “Yes, I did.” He replied, “What did he say?” The nun answered, “He said, ‘I’ve forgotten.’”
The living sacrifice of Jesus Christ has not only wiped your slate clean…it has broken your slate into a million pieces across crossbeams. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). God has forgiven your sin on the cross. Christ’s death reminds us.
You may be on a guilt trip. I want you to think for a moment about the most horrible sin you have ever committed. Think about that which if I revealed it to your friends and family, would make you want to crawl into a hole in the ground. It may be a sin you’ve hidden for years, the one thing that nobody knows and about which you’re never going to tell anyone because you’re so ashamed.
Now hold it, in all of its blackness, before the light of Christ. Remember God’s Word in Hebrews 10. He says this to you: “You remember your forgiveness and I’ll forget your sin. You are free!” That’s real. That’s secure. That’s yours—forever.
Time to Draw Away
Read Psalm 103 & Ephesians 2:1-7
Although you know you’re forgiven in Christ, you may still feel guilty. During those times, you may need a reminder of the forgiveness that’s already yours in him. Write down and memorize Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Allow it to sink in deep…as deep as God’s love for you. You really are free of your sin—past, present and future. Nothing is held against you anymore. Not one single sin.
That’s NOT from God.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore NO more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Yes, I inow it's not. I am working on it. 😇 I suppose if I was an unbeliever, nothing would bother me, so it's good that sin bothers me, but shouldn't get me down to a point that it makes me depressed. 😎
**http://www.keylife.org/authors/steve-brown
Hmmmm**
You say, “Hmmmm”, as though there is something suspect in the author’s message.
It’s actually plainly clear:
The Holy Ghost (a requirement for being born again) was not going to come until the Lord went away.
Jesus commanded conversion by being born again. Before he went away, He told his apostles how to preach it. All of the Lord’s commissions (found at the end of the four gospels) point to Acts 2:38.
I’m sure this author is a nice guy, and even knows a lot of scripture, But he, like so many, didn’t go there. It’s hard to preach an ‘upper room’ experience if one hasn’t been to the ‘upper room’.
Oh good, then we aren't responsible for our own actions....I love it that way
I posted very early on this thread and apparently you objected to something I said...what was it???
**Romans 4: 1-8 NASB**
Paul is addressing the works of the Law as not being able to wash away sin. Romans 4:3 is from Gen. 15:6. Abraham proved his faith by:
moving himself, his family and hired help, tents and other hardware, untold head of livestock, a few hundred miles (the hard way),
building an altar upon arrival in Sichem,
building another altar near Bethel,
escaping famine while in Egypt, then returned to the promised land (over 400 miles round trip the hard way),
building another altar in the plain of Mamre,
kicking serious butt almost all the way to Damascus (the hard way, nearly 400 miles round trip,...and returning with the spoil, which he didn’t keep),
was blessed by Melchizedek, king of Salem.
THEN, we finally get to Gen 15:6, which is referred to in Rom. 4:3.
The woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of the Lord’s garment, and was healed. She wasn’t healed just thinking that, she was healed when she physically proved her faith, and pressed through. To which the Lord said; “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole”. (from Matt. 9:22)
**Our sins are covered by the blood of Christ.**
His blood is applied by being buried with him in baptism (see Acts 2:38).
I have no clue at all what you said. The post was made and removed in a very short amount of time and since I do not monitor every thread all the time, I missed it.
I wouldn’t have known at all that you even posted except for a reply someone else made to you.
Y’all need to take a deep breath and relax.
Based on the posts I’ve seen, it seems like y’all Catholics are wound a little to tight at the moment. Maybe backing off since we non-Catholics are trying to stay out of your way would help. We can’t do it if y’all are going to keep chasing us down.
**Oh good, then we aren’t responsible for our own actions....I love it that way**
Jesus used sarcasm when he greeted Nathanael (”Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!”), proving it to be an acceptable means of communication. IMO, you should enter a ‘general discussion; theology’ thread by using scriptural debate as your means of discussion. It’s also the tone, don’t ya see?
John 1:47
I forgot the chapter and verse for the previous post. Duh!
Maybe I sometimes tend to beat myself up with guilt, more than I should.
“I posted very early on this thread and apparently you objected to something I said...what was it?”
If a post of yours is removed from a thread, do not try to hunt down the poster who you assume objected.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
You are correct sir.
bump
That was literally true for Paul. He was probably a kid when Jesus was killed.
And 2000+ years later ... it applies to us as well. How many of our sins were still yet future when Christ died for us? Answer ... all of them.
From Genesis 15:1-6
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” 2Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” 4Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”
5And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Context in understanding the Word is your friend....
The woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of the Lord’s garment, and was healed. She wasn’t healed just thinking that, she was healed when she physically proved her faith, and pressed through. To which the Lord said; “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole”. (from Matt. 9:22)
Jesus said it was her faith that made her well.
Go back to Matt 8:5-13 with the account of the Centurion. He believed Jesus could heal his servant from afar. No physical contact needed.
In both instances it was the faith of these two individuals that resulted in the healing.
Faith is what always pleases God.
Now, back to Acts. Go to Acts 10 with Peter and Cornelius. While Peter was preaching the Holy Spirit came upon those who were listening to the message (Acts 10:44).
It was at this point they were saved. Peter then ordered them to be baptized (Acts 10:47).
Without faith in Christ, getting baptized only makes you a wet sinner.
The blood of Christ, offered as a final, one time sacrifice, covers all of the sins of the believer.
If not, Colossians 2:13-14 will need to be removed from the Word, as would a lot of other verses on our forgiveness.
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14 NASB).
For the believer in Christ, our sins have been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross.....and that is where they remain and will remain.
You have a gift for succinctness.
HMMMmmm...
You may have shoes on the wrong feet.
Repost it; as I’ve missed it.
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