The Messenger

Our Weekly Bulletin

September 11, 2024
Volume XXXXIV –Number 35

Sunday, I spoke about how hard it is sometimes for us to forgive others. We understand the principle of forgiveness, but putting it into practice as we are commanded is sometimes difficult and seemingly impossible. Our greatest example of forgiveness is God and the forgiveness that He has made available to all who seek it.

 

Most do not take much pleasure in thinking of God as being a God of judgment and wrath. But, we need to keep in mind the reason for His exhibiting those very characteristics is because sin, unrighteousness, unfaithfulness, wickedness, and evil, all are contrary to God’s nature and self-destructive to those who practice such. God is always and completely righteous, and He created us in His own image. He holds us accountable for living up to that image as best we can. While God condemns sin and warns us to abstain from it (1 Thess. 5:22), He is also a merciful God and is eager to forgive when we repent and seek His forgiveness.

 

God not only has the ability and willingness to forgive, but He also wants to forgive. Forgiveness must be preceded by repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Repentance is not just being sorry (2 Cor. 7:9). Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change in behavior. It is a turn-around in practice that includes a turning away from sin.

 

When Jesus forgave the woman taken in adultery, He told her to “sin no more” (Jn. 8:11); that’s repentance. Jesus taught His disciples to forgive a brother who might sin against them, even if he should sin against them on a repeated basis and in the same day. The condition for the forgiveness, however, was that the brother was to repent (Lk. 17:3-4). Repentance is required in the process of conversion (Acts 3:19), before being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

All of us in life will from time-to-time stumble and sin (Rom. 3:23). The consequence of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). That same verse encourages us that God gave us the gift of eternal life. Obviously, forgiveness is available if we will repent and seek His forgiveness.

 

How can we know that God really wants to forgive us? How much does He want to forgive us? Both questions have the same answer; God sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for the guilt of our sins (Rom. 5:6- 10). God offered His Son as the ultimate sacrifice to bear our sins (Heb. 9:26,28). No greater statement of desire to forgive could possibly be made.

 

God offers forgiveness through Christ (Col. 1:13-14). We receive that forgiveness when we are baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38; 22:16) for the remission of sins. God wants to forgive. The rest is up to us to take the initiative and seek His forgiveness, on His terms. How blessed we are, and how thankful we should be, to serve such a God, a God of forgiveness! God Bless -Todd

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