Post by foxjj on Apr 12, 2018 7:10:54 GMT
God’s Unique Gift Of Forgiveness
When comparing spiritual teachings, Christianity is unique with its offer of forgiveness through the finished work of Jesus Christ. All religions do not offer forgiveness. As an example, there is the teaching that we must live another life in order to improve on the last one until we achieve perfection. Then there is the religion that says all of our actions are weighed on a scale and we are judged accordingly. Other groups require their followers to earn their forgiveness. Sometimes this may take the form of a sacrificial offering, or a payment of money, it may even require extra acts of religious duties that show sorrow for sins. In other words, their followers are required to earn forgiveness through their own merits.
In The Bible, God is portrayed as a holy God who offers forgiveness as Nehemiah 9:17 declares: "But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." Psalm 103: 8-14 also describes God as a compassionate and gracious Father who is willing to forgive: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
In the Old Covenant, forgiveness of sin was associated with sacrifice and blood, known as The Atonement as we read in Leviticus 17:11: "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life."
In the New Covenant, forgiveness is linked with the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. In Matthew 26:28 Jesus said: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." In Acts 13:38 Paul proclaimed: "Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." While writing to the Church in Ephesus he wrote:
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
Jesus pointed back to the prophets, showing how, as The Messiah, His death and resurrection was nessasery to bring forgiveness: "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47)
Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus is Devine, the Son of God in human flesh, who came to lay down His life as the ultimate sacrifice for sin: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17) The sacrifice of Jesus is God’s unique gift of forgiveness offered to all who will repent and receive it.
Peter proclaimed in Acts 2:38: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." It is only in believing in, and depending upon, the Sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sin, that we receive God's forgiveness which is God's only, and unique way of Salvation. In John 8: 36 Jesus proclaimed; "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
When we believe this, and have come to Christ receiving forgiveness of our sins, and then commit a sin, what course is open to us? Because our Heavenly Father is aware that we are redeemed sinners, and constantly in need of His Grace, He has made a way: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us." (1John 1: 8-10)
So how do we know that we have been forgiven of our sin? First of all one must accept that we cannot earn forgiveness by our own merits. As the Scriptures have shown, God has made the way of forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. While dying on the cross He stated, "It is finished." In proclaiming this, Jesus was announcing that the final sacrifice has been paid. There is no other offering that can be made for the forgiveness of sin. We can be assured that The Father has accepted the sacrifice of Jesus because of the resurrection of His Son from the tomb.
Paul speaks of forgiveness as been saved in Romans 10: 9-10:"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Having this knowledge makes a believer humble, for we know that we are not perfect, however, we do have the assurance that we are forgiven, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we have experienced forgiveness through Jesus, then we also must forgive: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
Today, let us praise our Heavenly Father for His Forgiveness.
John Joseph Fox.
When comparing spiritual teachings, Christianity is unique with its offer of forgiveness through the finished work of Jesus Christ. All religions do not offer forgiveness. As an example, there is the teaching that we must live another life in order to improve on the last one until we achieve perfection. Then there is the religion that says all of our actions are weighed on a scale and we are judged accordingly. Other groups require their followers to earn their forgiveness. Sometimes this may take the form of a sacrificial offering, or a payment of money, it may even require extra acts of religious duties that show sorrow for sins. In other words, their followers are required to earn forgiveness through their own merits.
In The Bible, God is portrayed as a holy God who offers forgiveness as Nehemiah 9:17 declares: "But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." Psalm 103: 8-14 also describes God as a compassionate and gracious Father who is willing to forgive: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
In the Old Covenant, forgiveness of sin was associated with sacrifice and blood, known as The Atonement as we read in Leviticus 17:11: "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life."
In the New Covenant, forgiveness is linked with the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. In Matthew 26:28 Jesus said: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." In Acts 13:38 Paul proclaimed: "Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." While writing to the Church in Ephesus he wrote:
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
Jesus pointed back to the prophets, showing how, as The Messiah, His death and resurrection was nessasery to bring forgiveness: "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47)
Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus is Devine, the Son of God in human flesh, who came to lay down His life as the ultimate sacrifice for sin: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17) The sacrifice of Jesus is God’s unique gift of forgiveness offered to all who will repent and receive it.
Peter proclaimed in Acts 2:38: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." It is only in believing in, and depending upon, the Sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sin, that we receive God's forgiveness which is God's only, and unique way of Salvation. In John 8: 36 Jesus proclaimed; "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
When we believe this, and have come to Christ receiving forgiveness of our sins, and then commit a sin, what course is open to us? Because our Heavenly Father is aware that we are redeemed sinners, and constantly in need of His Grace, He has made a way: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us." (1John 1: 8-10)
So how do we know that we have been forgiven of our sin? First of all one must accept that we cannot earn forgiveness by our own merits. As the Scriptures have shown, God has made the way of forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. While dying on the cross He stated, "It is finished." In proclaiming this, Jesus was announcing that the final sacrifice has been paid. There is no other offering that can be made for the forgiveness of sin. We can be assured that The Father has accepted the sacrifice of Jesus because of the resurrection of His Son from the tomb.
Paul speaks of forgiveness as been saved in Romans 10: 9-10:"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Having this knowledge makes a believer humble, for we know that we are not perfect, however, we do have the assurance that we are forgiven, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we have experienced forgiveness through Jesus, then we also must forgive: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
Today, let us praise our Heavenly Father for His Forgiveness.
John Joseph Fox.