FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

Luke 5:20 KJV
And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Dear Believer,

Forgiveness from God is a cardinal identifier of God’s nature. Satan is known by his hatred and unforgiveness. God is known by His love and forgiveness.

As abundant as God’s forgiveness is, you cannot actually experience it without faith. A man may be forgiven of some wrong, but that man can still limit himself by being tied to that negative event, refusing to go forward.

Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic and his friends and said unto the man, ‘You are forgiven of your sins.” If he had no faith, his sins would have remained and he would not have been healed.

The reason many Believers still struggle with certain sins and weaknesses is because they haven’t come to believe that they can overcome. Many haven’t truly come to believe that God has given them the power to live above sin. They live in the fear of falling.

When you came to Christ and He forgave your sin and wiped them away as though they never, ever happened, you were saved. Now, understand that God brought you into His Kingdom basically on trust. By wiping away your sin, He is showing you that He’s given you power over sin and that you can live above it, otherwise the forgiveness He effected made no sense.

So when we were saved by faith, we also received the ability walk in dominion over sin.

Although Jesus does not expect the Believer to sin, He made provision for cleansing IF he does.

1John 2:1 KJV
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

“If you sin,” not “when you sin.”

You aren’t expected to sin, but if you happen to, you must have faith in the power of Jesus to cleanse you.

This is so important because many believers don’t even know how to forgive themselves. They groan endlessly under the yoke of guilt. How does anyone who can’t forgive himself receive forgiveness from another person, even God?

Being sorrowful after missing the mark is natural, but a Believer’s reaction to missing the mark must not end there. He must believe in the God of love who cares to forgive His children and embraces them.

God isn’t a man who holds our wrong over us and uses it to manipulate us. He forgives indeed.

However, forgiveness, like every blessing that God gives, must be received by faith.

Do this today: thank God for His forgiving power today as manifested through Jesus your Lord.

Let all the chains of lingering guilt be broken in the name of Jesus.

Have a great day.

Your friend,
Deon.