Can you remember all the things that are classed as sin, that you have committed in your life? There will be quite a lot, no doubt. You still remember most of them, but God chose not to. When you asked Him to forgive you, He wiped the slate clean and chose not to remember them:
'And you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against you, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.' Colossians 2:13-14
All the things you had done wrong and qualified as sin, the devil wrote down on a record of wrongs and started spouting off, accusing you of it all. When you asked Jesus to forgive you, He took the record of wrongs and nailed it to the cross and died for your sin.
This is why David could say, 'Who forgives all your iniquities.' Note the small word 'all'. Small word with a massive meaning. All of your sin was forgiven, every bit of it. Now that you are saved, you'll still commit sin, most days. But confessing this to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you will again, wipe it all away. Totally amazing.
So why are you still remembering what you have done wrong? Why do you still feel under condemnation? And why do you feel guilty about something you have confessed to Jesus? It is a ploy by the devil sent to cause you discouragement. The devil wants you feeling ashamed of yourself and not being able to enjoy the abundant life Jesus has given you. (John 10:10). You must believe and remember that once you have asked Jesus to forgive you, He has. There's no need to keep asking Him a dozen times or so. Once is enough.
When we hurt people, many will not forgive us, or they may say that old cliche', 'I'll forgive you but I can't forget'. Jesus is not like that at all. He forgives immediately and there are no repercussions from this. It is forgotten, because He chooses it this way.
Let me leave you with a question, Do you need to forgive someone? Has someone said to you, 'Please forgive me for.......', and you're still burning with anger and upset? Don't you think that if Jesus forgives you when you ask Him to, that you should forgive the person who has wronged you and asked forgiveness?
Give it some thought.
Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave a message