The Power of Forgiveness (2)

In the book “A Forgiving God in an Unforgiving World”, Ron Lee Davis told the story of a priest in the Philippines who carried the burden of a secret sin he had committed many years before. He was a much-loved man of God who had repented but still had no sense of God’s forgiveness.

In his church was a woman who claimed to have visions in which she spoke with Christ and Christ with her. The priest however was skeptical. To test her he said, “The next time you speak with Christ, I want you to ask Him what sin your priest committed while he was in Bible College.” The woman agreed.

A few days later the priest asked, “Well, did Christ visit you in your dreams?”

“Yes He did”, she replied.

“And did you ask Him what sin I committed in Bible College?”

“Yes”

“Well what did He say?”

“He said, ‘I don’t remember.’”

This story is an illustration of the reality that the New Testament in the blood of Jesus avails every believer:

“For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Hebrews 8:12 HCSB 

“…I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts”

Hebrews 10:17 HCSB 

When we come to an understanding and appreciation of God’s forgiveness, it gives us boldness in the way we relate with God. It frees us from feelings of condemnation or guilt.

“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus”

Romans 8:1 HCSB

I must make this very clear: God does not confront or remind His children of sins that they have repented of. It is the devil that constantly tries to accuse God’s people and makes them cower back in fear from abounding in God (Revelations 12:10 calls him the ‘accuser of the brethren’).  

Is the devil still playing this trick on you? Or have you put on yourself any burden of sins and you still wallow in guilt and condemnation? Then I ask you to allow the light of the truth of God’s word pierce through to free you from this shackle. God has forgiven you in Christ Jesus already.  

You see God did not just wish our sins away. Jesus actually paid the penalty for our sins. He gave His life as a sacrifice to make an atonement for us. The death of Christ, the blood He shed cleanses us from all sin (1^st John 1:7) and even now when we commit any sins, God’s forgiveness is still only available in the propitiatory work of Christ. 

“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”

1^st John 2:1 & 2 HCSB

There is no sin grave enough, no transgression or wrong doing too evil to defy the power of God’s forgiveness! Ephesians 1:7 says God’s forgiveness is in accordance with God’s grace. So what are the boundaries of God’s grace? What is the extent of God’s grace in Christ? If God’s grace is unlimited, then God’s forgiveness is exactly the same. You need to appropriate it by faith and learn to forgive yourself.  

Paul had a murderous past, the unnamed woman in John 8 had an adulterous past, and the dying thief beside Jesus on the cross had probably been a “career criminal” but each of them received an offer of God’s forgiveness. The same offer He extends to all of us.

I pray for you this week that you will experience the liberating power of the reality of God’s forgiveness; that you will experience release from guilt and condemnation; that you will experience boldness in approaching God and that your heart will be drawn in overwhelming love and reverence for Him as you open your heart to this awesome truth of God’s forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Amen.

My song for the week is "Forgiven" by Sanctus Real.

"Forgiven" by Sanctus Real