8 - Do Over
No Wonder They Crucified Him • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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How Forgiveness Through Faith in Jesus is the Best Do-Over Ever
How often do you feel like you need a do-over?
An opportunity to try again?
Here’s a short list of some of the things I do that make me want a do-over:
Words I’ve spoken that I’d like to inhale or say differently.
Thoughts I’ve allowed to lead me down a path of discouragement.
Procrastination that kept me from doing my best.
Indulgences that failed to satisfy.
Judgment I endorsed without kindness and compassion.
Envy I contemplated when I should have simply counted my blessings
Okay, you get the idea!
I can definitely relate to Paul’s words…
19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
You too!
It’s hard, isn’t it? Temptation and our own sinful nature always get in the way of our wanting to trust and obey God’s will perfectly.
By God’s grace, we know that even the apostles experienced this struggle.
Paul put it this way…
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
And he went on to add…
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
He knew he needed forgiveness and an opportunity to try again.
He needed forgiveness and a do-over!
And you and I need forgiveness and a do-over, too.
So we run to God in repentance asking Him for mercy and grace.
When we do, Paul tells us that God supplied the answer. Jesus!
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, through faith . . . we can come to the Father and He sees Jesus in us—holy, blameless and without a single fault.
Forgiveness through Jesus born out of God’s grace, mercy, and love is the ultimate do-over.
Let’s pause to thank and praise God for His amazing gift!
A Prayer Thanking God for His Mercy,
for Forgiveness, for Every Single Do-Over Given
Thank you, Jesus, for giving your life for me. Thank you for loving us all so much that you gave up the glories of heaven and came to the earth You created to live with those of us who are selfish and sinful to save us and show us a better way.
I humbly come before You, Lord, asking for Your forgiveness. I want to fully trust and obey Your perfect will. I want to follow Your better way. Yet, I’m so prone to weakness. Like Paul, I want to do what is good but I don’t. Please wash me clean. Please strengthen me and give me all I need to not give up or give in to temptation. Your Word says, that You will provide me “a way of escape and the ability to endure.”
You are so good and gracious. Please help me stay focused on You. Help me live every moment of my life with gratitude and love for all You have done and continue to do for me. Help me appreciate every day as an opportunity to try again . . . to get a do-over that I might love the way You want me to love.
Lord, I praise and thank you forever and ever. Amen.
Friend, I know that forgiveness does not always eliminate the consequences of our words and actions. We often still have to live out and work toward healing hurt relationships, jobs poorly done, and debts we owe.
But…
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
Will you join me? Let’s run to Him in repentance, appreciate every do-over, and worship Him with every breath.
May God be with you today and fill you with His peace, hope, and joy!
