Hey friends today I want to touch on Trusting the Nature of God's Forgiveness. Some questions I found myself asking was....
What does it mean to have our sins removed?
Does God ignore them and pretend they don't exist?
Since someone has to pay for our sins, who was punished?
Well, I can confidently say Jesus paid the price for our sins.
So, we as believers must make every effort to run from the things that tempt us to sin, whether that is access to pornography if we are tempted to sexual sin or simply being with the wrong crowd of people that can lead us to make sinful choices. Jesus tells us to cut off our hand or pluck out our eye if they "offend" us. Not literally but you get the point :-). This means removing from our lives the things or people that so easily tempt us to sin even when those are things we enjoy. In short, we have to change the habits that lead to habitual sin.
Another key element is trusting the nature of God's forgiveness. We may stumble and go back to old habits as we are trying to change. The enemy will want to use that against you to discourage you and make you think you are beyond forgiveness. The truth is God's ability to forgive does not run out. He is a patient God who doesn't want any of us to live in sin or die in sin. God knows that we will fall, and his grace is sufficient. God is not going to give up on you if you humbly seek him and repent of your sins. Begin asking God for wisdom and identifying the things that are leading you into sin. Then start addressing those sins, and you will begin to see God change your life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know I'm weak and capable of falling, but I trust you for strength when I face temptation knowing that you provide a way for me to escape. Help me find a way to win and never take my opponent lightly. I pray for humility and focus as I rest in your grace. In Jesus name, Amen.
Scripture Reference
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mathew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Revelation 3:19-21 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my father on his throne.
Psalms 19:12-14 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.