BEING FORGIVEN

PART 1

SUNDAY, MAY 18TH 2003

WHEN WE TRULY REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING GOD HAS DONE THROUGH THE AGES HAS BEEN FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RE-ESTABLISHING THE CLOSEST AND MOST FULFILLING RELATIONSHIP POSSIBLE WITH US…..

WE LOOK AT THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DID BEFORE!!!

GOD REALLY ISN’T THE ALOOF JUDGE IN THE SKY WE EXPECT HIM TO BE, WRITING PEOPLE OFF ONE AFTER ANOTHER AS WE EACH FAIL TO LIVE UP TO HIS EXPECTATIONS OF US!!!

HE IS INSTEAD, A GOD OF LOVE WHO AGONIZES OVER THE WRONG, WITH RESULTANT DEATH……………THAT WE INTRODUCE INTO OUR OWN (AND OTHER’S) LIVES.

WHEN WE CHOOSE WAYS OF BELIEVING OR LIVING THAT CUT HIM OUT OF THE EQUATION, THE LOSS HE FEELS IS MORE RENDING THAN THE MULTIPLIED LOSS OF EVERY PARENT ON EARTH SUFFERING THE DEATH OF A CHILD!!!!

HE CREATED EVERY ONE OF US VERY PURPOSEFULLY AND PARTICULALRY….

DESIRING ABOVE ALL ELSE TO SHARE HIS WHOLE LIFE WITH US FOREVER!!!

AT ALL COSTS HE INTENDS TO MAINTAIN THE CLOSENESS AND INTIMACY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM……..LISTEN……EVEN WHEN HE HAS TO PAY THE PRICE HIMSELF!!!

SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?????

GOD IS GOD….

CAN’T HE DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO???

I MEAN….IF HE WANTS SOMETHING TO BE A PARTICULAR WAY, THEN…..PRESTO!!!!

HE CAN MAKE IT THAT WAY….RIGHT???

WHY DOES GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMAN BEINGS NEED TO BE MAINTAINED AND REPAIRED? 

COULDN’T GOD JUST FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME – AND MAKE IT FOOLPROOF?   THAT WAY EVERYONE COULD LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!

THIS BRINGS US TO THE MOST CENTRAL ISSUE IN ALL OF CREATION.  IN A WAY, IT IS THE WHOLE STORY!!!

THE THEME….

THE PLOT………

OF GOD’S DEALINGS WITH EACH OF US!!!

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU, YOU MUST FIRST GRASP A REALITY THAT PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE TO HEAR MUCH ABOUT ONE LITTLE THREE LETTER WORD - - - - -

SIN

AND THE REASON MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT SIN IS SIMPLE!!!

HOWEVER ANYONE DEFINES THEIR PERSONAL BOUNDARIES BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG…….

BETWEEN ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR….

EVERYONE….

EVERYONE….

KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE BLOWN IT!!!!

NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO LIVE UP TO HIS OR HER OWN STANDARD FOR CONDUCT!!!

WE INSTINCTIVELY RECOIL AT THE RECOLLECTION OF THE BAD THINGS WE HAVE DONE - -EITHER BEC WE FEEL BADLY ABOUT THEM……AND WISH THEY HAD NOT HAPPENED…

OR BEC WE PLAN TO DO THEM AGAIN AND WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO HURDLE OUR CONSCIENCE TO DO SO!!!!!

WE DO NOT WANT OUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL OR PHYSICAL EXCURSIONS INTO DARKNESS EXPOSED!!!!

LITERALLY TO SIN MEANS TO ‘MISS THE MARK’    -  TO COME UP SHORT, TO BE OFF TARGET, TO END UP MISSING WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AND ULTIMATELY, TO MISS OUT ON WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IF YOU HAD HIT THE TARGET!!!!

A SIN IS BOTH THE WRONG WE DO OR THINK………AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT WRONG!!!

CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT THE SAME AS PUNISHMENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ADMINISTERED!!!

A CHILD MAY OR MAY NOT BE GROUNDED OR PUNISHED FOR BREAKING THE VASE HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM NOT TO TOUCH…….

BUT EITHER WAY……..THOUGH THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS WRONGDOING IS THE SAME….

THE VASE IS NOW BROKEN!!!!!!!

EVERYONE WANTS SIN BURIED IN THE PAST…..WITH NO AFTEREFFECTS IN THE FUTURE!!!

WE ALL WANT TO BE DONE WITH WHAT WE’VE DONE AND NOT TO HAVE TO FACE IT!!!

THE PROBLEM IS….

SIN DOESN’T JUST GO AWAY ON ITS OWN!!!

IT HAS A LINGERING OUTCOME!!!

PERHAPS IF SIN SOMEHOW HAD NO CONSEQUENCES - - IF BREAKING THE VASE DIDN’T BREAK IT - - - SIN COULD BE FORGOTTEN OR PASSED OVER AS THOUGH IT DID NOT EXIST!!!!

BUT

SIN DOES HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

IN FACT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH OTHERS HAVE WRONGED YOU…..WHAT YOU ARE LEFT WITH IS NOT SO MUCH WHAT THEY DID…..BUT WHAT THE WHAT DID TO YOU!!!

THE OUTCOME IT HAD IN YOUR LIFE!!!

ONCE SOMEONE SINS AGAINST US GRIEVOUSLY, A CURIOUS THING HAPPENS!!!

THAT PERSON’S WRONGDOING BECOMES MORE PROMINENT ON THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP THAN HE OR SHE IS!!!

WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUAL BEC THE SIN LOOMS ENORMOUSLY IN OUR WAY!!!

WHAT WE’CANNOT GET OVER’ OR “PUT BEHIND US’ BLOCKS OUR RELATIONSHIP!!!

AND THE WORST PART IS…

THAT SIN ALWAYS ENDS IN DEATH!!!

NOT ALWAYS A PHYSICAL END OF ONE’S LIFE…..

BUT AT THE LEAST A CUTTING OFF OF RELTAIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON AGAINST WHOM WE SINNED AND AN END TO THE FUTURE LIFE WE WOULD HAVE ENJOYED IF WE HAD NOT SINNED!!!!

YOU ALL KNOW PROBABLY MY MEMORY NOW……ROMANS 6:23   “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH…..BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!!”

SO DEATH……AS THE BIBLE DEFINES IT IS A LOSS OF RELATIONSHIP AND A LOSS OF A FUTURE!!!!

YOU MAY NOT WANT TO THINK OF IT THIS WAY……..BUT ONE OF THE SPIRITUAL LAWS GOVERNING HOW LIFE WORKS IS THAT SIN RESULTS IN DEATH!!!

YOU CANNOT HAVE RELATIONSHIP WIH BOTH A PERSON, AND THAT PERSON’S SIN AGIANST YOU!!!

THEIR ACTIONS OR THEIR WORDS BECOME THE FOCUS OF YOUR ATTENTION.

IF YOU HANG ON TO THEIR SIN………YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF THE RELTAIONSHIP!!!

JUST AS ADAM AND EVE CHOSE TO DISREGARD GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS, SIN ENTERED THE WORLD, AND DEATH CAME ALONG WITH SIN!!!!

THEN DEATH SPREAD TO ALL PEOPLE FROM THAT POINT ON BECAUSE THEY (AND WE) KEPT MAKING THE SAME SORTS OF TERRIBLE DECISIONS THAT ADAM AND EVE MADE!!!

LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN.

CAN YOU THINK OF SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE DID OR SAID TO YOU SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS PROBABLY FORGOTTEN - - BUT IT STILL PAINS YOU DEEPLY?

THAT PERSON’S WORDS OR DEEDS PROBABLY LEFT NO LASTING IMPRESSION!!!

NOR DID THE BEHAVIOR AFFECT THE REST OF THE WORLD.  IT LANDED PRIMARILY ON YOU!!!

AND YOU ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE SIN!!!

IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE WHAT THE PERSON DID FROM WHAT IT DID TO YOU!!!

YOUR VASE WAS BROKEN …………….ONCE THEY BROKE THE VASE!!!!

THAT SHOULD HELP YOU UNDESTAND GOD’S DILEMMA!!!

SINS COMMITTED AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE ALSO HAVE CONSEQUENCES ON THE ONE WHO COMMITTED THE SINS!!!

EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCE!!!

AS SURELY AS SIN AFFECTS OTHERS WITH ITS DEATHLY CONSEQUENCES, SO IT BRINGS LONG-LASTING CONSEQUENCES INTO THE LIFE OF THE SINNER!!!!

EVERY WRONG WE HAVE DONE - - -THOUGH IT WAS DONE TO OTHER PEOPLE OR TO OURSELVES - - - HAS ULTIMATELY BEEN AN OFFENSE AGAINST GOD!!!!

EACH WRONG CUTS ACROSS AND DISREGARD BOUNDARIES GOD HAS SET FOR HIS CREATION!!!

YOU NEVER SIN IN ISOLATION!!!!
YOU NEVER SIN ALONE!!!!

YOU NEVER JUST AFFECT YOU WHEN YOU SIN!!!!

YOU AFFECT A MULTITUDE OF RELATIONSHIPS!!!!!!  INCLUDING YOUR’S AND GOD’S!!!!!

THAT IS WHY, IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD…..YOU WERE ‘DEAD IN YOUR TRESPASSES AND SINS’  (EPH 2:1)

IN OTHER WORDS…..YOU WERE CUT OFF FROM CONNECTION WITH THE LORD!!!

EXCLUDED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD……..

YOU HAD FORFEITED FUTURE (ETERNAL) LIFE WITH HIM!!!!

THOUGH NOT PHYSICALLY DEAD……WE HAVE LIVED A LIFE SPIRITUALLY  REMOVED FROM THE LORD’S PRESENCE!!!

ADAM AND EVE HAD TO GIVE UP THEIR PLACE IN THE PERFECT GARDEN!!

THEY FOUND THEMSELVES HIDING FROM GOD - -RATHER THAN RELATING TO HIM INTIMATELY AND CONVERSTATIONALLY AS THEY HAD BEFORE THEIR SIN!!!!

SO TOO HAVE WE LIVED LIFE AWAY FROM GOD’S PRESENCE AND PLANS!!!!

SIN AND DEATH RUINED EVERYTHING GOD HAD EVER WANTED FOR US TO ENJOY WITH HIM.    IN ORDER TO RESTORE WHAT PEOPLE HAD DONE AWAY WITH…..GOD HAD TO DO AWAY WITH THE CAUSE FO ALL THE DEVASTATION……HE HAD TO GET RID OF OUR SIN!!!!

SO THERE REALLY IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION!!!

FORGIVENESS!!!!

SIN IS A PERMANENT MARK ON OUR RECORD!!!

IT IS LIKE A BLOTCH OF INDELIBLE INK THAT HAS BEEN SPILLED ONTO A WHITE COTTON SHIRT OR BLOUSE!!!

GOD’S ORIGINAL INTENT WAS FOR NO ONE TO SIN……JUST AS OUR HOPE IS THAT NO ONE WILL EVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT AND OFFEND US!!!

IT IS A GREAT PLAN AS LONG AS NO ONE MESSES UP……BUT WHEN EVERYONE HAS DARK STAINS ON THEIR SHIRTS AND BLOUSES……ANOTHER PLAN IS NEEDED!!!

GOD SAW THAT THERE WAS NO ONE ON EARTH WHO WAS PERFECT!!!

EVERYONE TURNED ASIDE FROM HIS WAYS!!!

THEREFORE HE HIMSELF……..ACTED TO RESCUE US FROM OUR HOPELESS CONDITION!!!

(READ ISA 63:5 – AND I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NO ONE TO HELP….AND I WAS ASTONISHED AND THERE WAS NO ONE TO UPHOLD, SO MY OWN ARM BROUGHT SALVATION TO ME AND MY WRATH UPHELD ME”)

THE SUBJECT OF SIN IS CENTRAL TO THE GOOD NEWS GOD WANTS TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD!!!

THIS ISSUE OF SIN - - WHO HAS COMMITTED IT AND HOW IT CAN BE REMOVED - - - IS ONE OF THE SUREST WAYS TO DISTINGUISH FALSE RELIGIONS!!!

SOME RELIGIONS TEACH THAT PEOPLE CAN BECOME SO SPIRITUAL OR PURE THAT THEY NO LONGER SIN!!!

OTHER RELIGIONS TEACH THAT THERE IS A BASIC GOODNESS IN PEOPLE - - -A GOODNESS THAT IS HINDERED ONLY BY EXTERNAL FACTORS IN THE ENVIROMENT……OR UPBRINGING……OR BEC OF A LACK OF EDUCATION!!!

NOW ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THE LORD DID WAS TO HEIGHTEN EVERYONE’S AWARENESS OF WRONG BY FURNISHING THE WORLD WITH A READABLE INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR HOW THINGS WERE TO WORK AND NOT TO WORK..!!!

WE CALL IT THE ‘LAW”

THE WHOLE POINT FOR GIVING TO US THOSE 10 COMMANDMENTS WAS TO CONVINCE ALL OF US THAT WE NEED FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS!!!

WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE OF MAINTIANING OUR LIFE IN GOD BY MEANS OF OUR OWN FLAWLESSNESS!!!

AS THE SAYING GOES….”NOBODY IS PERFECT”

OUR CULTURE USES THAT LINE AS AN EXCUSE:  “WELL….COMPARED TO MOST PEOPLE…….I DO PRETTY WELL…….AFTER ALL YOU MAKE MISTAKES TOO”

BUT GOD IS FAULTLESS!!!

HE MADE THE WORLDS TO WORK IN PERFECTION AND BEAUTY…NOT IN SHORTCOMINGS AND BLEMISH!!!!

HIS INTENTION IS FOR THINGS TO BE RIGHT…..NOT WRONG!!!

HE CANNOT RECONCILE EVIL WITH HIS GOODNESS

THERE IS NO PLACE FOR DISTORTION IN THE MIDST OF PERFECTION!!!

THAT WOULD BE LIKE A MASTER WOODWORKER TRYING TO FIT WRONGLY CUT BOARDS INTO A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED CABINET!!!

WRONG AND RIGHT CANNOT FIT TOGETHER.

IF EVEN ONE WRONG IS ALLOWED TO BE A PART OF AN EQUATION THE ERROR THROWS OFF THE WHOLE ANSWER!!!

FOR THE SAKE OF WHAT HE HAS ALWAYS WANTED WITH US…….GOD COULD NOT JUST SAY….

“OH WELL…..GOOD TRY….NEVER MIND ABOUT YOUR WRONGS…..

WE’LL JUST FIND A WAY TO WORK THEM INTO OUR FUTURE TOGETHER”

OUR SIN COULD NOT BE ACCOMODATED - - -IT HAD TO BE DISLODGED!!

OUR WRONGS COULD NOT BE ENTERTAINED - - THEY HAD TO BE ELIMINATED!!!

THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY FOR GOD TO ‘LOOK THE OTHER WAY’

THE VERY NATURE OF SIN AND TRESPASS AND EVIL IS TO RUIN WHAT IS RIGHT!!!

WRONG ACTS TO DESTROY

IT ALWAYS INTRODUCES DEATH!!!

GOD COULD NOT ALLOW IT TO PERPETUATE ITSELF FOREVER!!!

TO DO SO WOULD BE LIKE A DOCTOR WHO KNOWINGLY LIFTED THE QUARANTINE OF PATIENTS INFECTED WITH A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY VIRUS LIKE EBOLA

THERE WAS ONLY ONE SOLUTION:   FORGIVENESS!!!!

NEXT TO LOVE….FORGIVENESS IS THE MOST BASIC AND MOST POWERFUL DYNAMIC OF THE GOOD NEWS JESUS HAS DELIVERED TO THE WORLD!!!

THROUGH FORGIVENESS GOD RESTORES WHAT IS LOST!!!

HE REPAIRS WHAT IS BROKEN….

AND HE REESTABLISHES HIS LIFE WITH US!!!

FORGIVENESS IS THE FOOLPROOF PLAN GOD HAS IMPLEMENTED SO THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM REMAINS IN CONSTANT REPAIR INSTEAD OF IN NEED OF CONSTANT REPAIR!!!

IT IS WHY AND HOW WE WILL LIVE HAPPILY WITH THE LORD EVER AFTER!!!

FORGIVENESS IS THE MIRACULOUS WORKING OF GOD TO SAVE US FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SIN!!!

IT TAKES US FROM THE WRONG PLACE WE HAVE ENDED UP IN AS A RESULT OF OUR SIN TO THE RIGHT PLACE TO WHICH GOD HAS INVITED US!!!

WHAT OUR NATURAL LANGUAGE COMMUNICATES ABOUT FORGIVENESS IS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT IT TRULY ENTAILS!!!

WE MOSTLY USE IT AFTER MAKING SMALL SOCIAL GAFFES….

“FORGIVE ME…I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT SEAT WAS TAKEN”

OR WE ASK OTHERS FOR IT ONLY INFREQUENTLY FOR SPECIFIC OFFENSES  (“FORGIVE ME…I SHOULD NEVER HAVE SAID THAT”)

NONE OF THAT IS BAD…..

BUT WE FAIL TO REALLY REALIZE THE MAGNITUDE AND MIGHT OF FORGIVENESS!!!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REVEAL ABOUT FORGIVENESS, AND HOW DOES IT WORK OUT IN OUR WALK WITH THE LORD?

TO BEGIN WITH….FORGIVENESS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPOSING FEATURES OF THE LORD!!!

PSALM 130:4    “THRE IS FORGIVENESS WITH YOU….THAT YOU MAY BE FEARED”

FORGIVENESS IS THE LAST WORD……THE FINAL STATEMENT THAT CAN BE UTTERED ABOUT SOMEONE’S ULITMATE DESTINY!!!

FORGIVENESS HAS THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT A PARDON!!!

IF YOU COMMITTED A CAPITAL CRIME AND WERE CAUGHT, TRIED AND SENTENCED……YOU WOULD FACE SEVERAL PEOPLE!!!

EACH WHOM WOULD HAVE AN AUTHORITY OVER YOUR LIFE!!!!

THEY WOULD BE ……THE DETECTIVE WHO ARRESTED YOU…

THE PROSECTOR…..WHO BROUGHT EVIDENCE AGAISNT YOU…

THE JURY WHO CONVICTED YOU…

THE JUDGE WHO SENTENCED YOU……

AND THE WARDEN WHO JAILED YOU!!!!

BUT NONE OF THEM COULD MATCH THE AUTHORITY HELD BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE POWER TO GRANT YOU CLEMENCY!!!

JESUS TOLD US NOT TO FEAR THE ONE WHO CAN AFFECT ONLY THIS LIFE…..BUT TO FEAR ONE WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO AFFECT OUR ETERNITY!!!

(READ LUKE 12:4-5)

MERCY AND FORGIVENESS CAN ALWAYS OUTDO JUDGEMENT BECAUSE THEY COME INTO PLAY AFTER THE VERDICT AND SENTENCE HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN!!!

FORGIVENESS HAS THE UNDENIABLE RIGHT TO HAVE THE LAST WORD…….AND ONCE IT IS SPOKEN……NOTHING MORE CAN BE SAID…..EXCEPT ‘THANK YOU’!!!!

TWO WORD PICTURES MAY HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT FORGIVENESS IS AND WHAT IT DOES!!!

FIRST……FORGIVENESS LIFTS A LOAD FROM US

IT CARRIES AWAY WHAT WE WERE CARRYING.

ALL OF US CAN RELATE TO STRUGGLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF BAD THINGS WE HAVE DONE.

THEY ‘WEIGH’ ON OUR CONSCIENCE.  

JUST LIKE A HEAVY DEBT ……OUR WRONGS BURDEN US AND OVERWHELM OUR HEART.     YET MOST OF US DISMISS THE WEIGHT OF THINGS WE DO AFTER A FEW HOURS OR DAYS…..

BUT WITHOUT US REALIZING IT……..SIN IS A HEAVY ENCUMBRANCE AND IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM ALL THE WRONGS COMMITTED BY A PERSON ACCUMULATE INTO A MASSIVE LOAD OVER THE ENTIRE COURSE OF THAT PERSON’S LIFE

FORGIVENESS LIFTS THE AMASSED WEIGHT OFF OUR LIVES!!!

FORGIVENESS ALSO WIPES AWAY THE STAIN OF SIN!!!

FORGIVENESS IS NOT PREVENTATIVE……..SOMEHOW LIKE A FOLDED NAPKIN ACROSS YOUR LAP!!!!

NAPKINS ARE GOOD THINGS…

THEY GUARD AGAINST MANY SPILLS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE SPOIL YOUR CLOTHES!!!

FORGIVENESS TAKES THE NEXT STEP - - - IT TAKES CARE OF WHAT YOUR NAPKIN MISSES!!!

IT WASHES YOUR CLOTHES AND MAKES THEM AS CLEAN AS NEW!!!

FORGIVENESS REMOVES THE CRANBERRY STAIN FROM YOUR WHITE COTTON SHIRT……MAKING IT….’AS WHITE AS SNOW’

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW THE SMALLEST STAIN DRAWS ALL THE ATTENTION?

A SPLOTCH ON A DRESS OR A PAIR OF PANTS STANDS OUT MORE THAN ALL THE REST OF THE FABRIC BEC IT IS SO OUT OF SYNC WITH THE ORIGINAL PATTERN!!!

WELL………IT’S THE SAME WITH SIN!!!!!

WE HAVE SPILLED COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF ITEMS ACROSS THE FABRIC OF OUR BEINGS!!

WE HAVE WIPED DIRTY, GREASY HANDS WITH OUR HEART LINEN.

WE HAVE ENGAGED IN TOUGH AND CARELESS PLAY THAT HAS BESMIRCHED AND SOILED OUR SOUL.

BUT FORGIVENESS CLEANS AWAY ALL STAIN AND ANY TRACE OF WHAT ONCE DIRTIED US!!!!

THE COMMON THEME IN BOTH THESE PICTURES IS THAT FORGIVENESS REMOVES OUR WRONGDOINGS BY SEPARATING OUR SINS FROM US!!!!

IT SEVERS THE LINK BETWEEN US AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE!!!

AND CRIMES ARE NO LONGER CONNECTED WITH US IN ANY WAY!!!!

THEY ARE PUT AWAY FROM AND BEHIND US!!!

AND THAT’S THE VERY THING WE WANT!!!!

TO HAVE OUR SIN DONE AWAY WITH….

TO HAVE IT LEFT OUT OF THE EQUATION……

WITH NO POWER TO AFFECT OUR FUTURE ANY LONGER!!!

DO YOU REALIZE THAT THE ONLY REAL POWER YOU HAVE YOUR OWN……..CONCERNING YOUR SIN…………… IS TO PRETEND THAT YOUR SINS NEVER HAPPENED!!!

WELL….

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS….\

IN FACT IT’S REALLY GREAT NEWS!!!

“ GOD OFFERS US ACTUAL SLATE-CLEANING, STAIN REMOVING FORGIVENESS FOR THE UNDENIABLY REAL SINS IN OUR LIFE!!!!!!

NOW……..

THE PROBLEM WITH FORGIVENESS IS ……ALL THAT I’VE SAID SOUNDS SO GREAT……..

BUT EVERYONE…STILL STRUGGLES WITH THIS CONCEPT.

AS STRANGE AS IT SOUNDS PEOPLE IN GENERAL…..

EVEN BELEIVERS….

HAVE A HARD TIME ACCEPTING GOD’S FORGIVENESS!!!

OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE WITH GOD……YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT FORGIVENESS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SPRITUAL TRUTHS TO KEEP EMBRACING!!!

THAT’S BEC …..AS USUAL…….WE DO NOT THINK AS GOD THINKS!!!

HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE OPPOSITE OF OURS!!!

FORGIVENESS IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL WHO ACCEPT JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR!!!

BY THE WAY….THE MEANING OF THAT WORD SAVIOR LITERALLY MEANS…..’THE ONE WHO RESCUES US FROM THE POWER OF OUR SINS!!!

WE DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO EARN FORGIVENESS!!!

A PARDON THAT COMMUTES A SENTENCE IS NOT THE SAME AS ‘TIME OFF’ FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR!!!

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WE CAN DO TO GAIN FORGIVENESS ON OUR OWN!!!

WE CANNOT INCREASE OUR TAKE-HOME PAY OF FORGIVENESS BY PUTTING IN EXTRA HOURS OR EFFORTS!!!

THE ONLY WAGE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EARN FROM OUR SIN IS DEATH!!!!

BUT BEC WE HUMANS LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS ON OUR OWN…….IT BOTHERS US WHEN WE ARE TOLD WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO AFFECT OUR LIFE SITUATION!!!

OUR PRIDE FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THAT FORGIVENESS IS COMPLETELY UNCONNECTED TO OUR BEHAVIOR!!!!

THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS AND WHAT WE DO OR DO NOT DO!!!!

IF WE PAUSE TO THINK ABOUT IT………IT REALLY IS RIDICULOUS!!!

WE WANT TO BE FORGIVEN, WHICH IS TO HAVE EVERY CONNECTON BETWEEN US AND OUR DEEDS REMOVED, BUT WE ARE TEMPTED BY A DESIRE TO HAVE FORGIVENESS EARNED BY WHAT WE DO!!!!

THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE MANY TRAPS WAITING TO ENSNARE YOU AS YOU LIVE LIFE AS A BELEIVER IN GOD AND IN HIS CHRIST!!!

THE LIES WILL COME……AND THEY WHISPER THEIR ACCUSATIONS (WHICH ARE TRUE)………BUT BRINGING US TO A HORRIBLY MISLEADING CONCLUSION!!!

YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE FORGIVEN AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!

(THAT’S TRUE)

GOD WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU NOW!!!!

(THAT’S FALSE)

WE CAN NEVER DESERVE TO BE FORGIVEN!!!!

THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT!!!

A GUILTY …..CONVICTED FELON ON DEATH ROW CANNOT DO ANYTHING WHILE AWAITING EXECUTION TO EARN FORGIVENESS!!!!

HIS ONLY HOPE LIES IN A PARDON….FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT!!!

OUR ONLY HOPE LIES IN THE RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!