I’m Forgiven, Right?

 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9  NIV

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12 NLT

I was listening to a Christian music station yesterday. It was a beautiful song with which I was familiar. It seems that a lot of these songs are about either praising God or praying to Him for help/forgiveness. That made me wonder, where do we spend most of our time, in the praise or forgiveness mode? We should always praise God, no matter the circumstances. This we’ve been taught. That can be a little tricky at times especially when the situation is far from praiseworthy (at least to us). Yet what struck me was the forgiveness aspect. Do we truly believe that we are forgiven?

The scripture from John says if we confess our sins, He will forgive us. It doesn’t say He’ll think about it, or He might forgive us, He forgives us. We’re forgiven. But that still is difficult to accept when you consider how sinful we actually are. There are probably a thousand things we do on a daily basis that don’t feel like a sin, yet to God it is. None of us are out robbing banks etc., but even an unkind thought is  grievous to God. So how do we know we are truly forgiven by God? Because He said so and if that wasn’t enough what He did on the Cross puts the exclamation mark on it.

 Sometimes it’s easy to go day to day feeling there is no way you are going to be worthy of His forgiveness. We feel that way, but the fact is that is not the case. Feelings differ from fact. The enemy can do a lot of damage when he’s in your head manipulating your feelings. We need to hold on to the fact that God does not lie. He is incapable of lying. Whatever He says is truth. But still I think more times than I care to admit “Yeah, but there is no way I’ll be forgiven for……”  Actually making God’s mind up for Him and deciding what He will and will not forgive!

It's normal and very easy to struggle with the doubts of being truly forgiven by God. Remember, though, that God’s forgiveness is not based on our feelings – it’s based on His grace. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, God promised that He would never stop forgiving us no matter what we do. Of course that doesn’t give anyone a free pass to embark on a sinning spree assuming it’s ok. No, it certainly does not mean that. As Christians we recognize our sins (be honest, you know you do) and God has sent the Holy Spirit into each heart. That is the strongest moral compass you will ever have. You KNOW when you do wrong because the Holy Spirit really does let you know, and you absolutely feel it and hopefully you repent. Does it mean you have to walk around terrified over every thought, action and word that comes out of your mouth for fear of sinning? No again. God knows we are human flawed beings, and He still loves us! You know who doesn’t love us? Satan. The father of lies. He’ll keep accusing and making you feel guilty of every sin no matter how big or small until you feel totally undeserving of God’s love. Anything and everything to separate us from Him. Here’s how we know it for the lie it is:

Colossians1:22 NLT “Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless before Him without a single fault.” Because we believe in Christ and what He did for us on the cross, God sees us as completely pure and holy. Nothing ever can and ever will separate us from His love!

PRAYER

Dear Father,

We ask that you ease our minds and hearts knowing we are forgiven by Your grace. The sacrifice You made on the cross washed all our sins away. Keep our thoughts free from the enemy who tries to fill us with questions and doubts and push us further from You. We confess our shortcomings and sins, knowing that You are faithful to forgive those who come to You with humble hearts. May Your Holy Spirit remind us daily that our sins are no longer held against us, that we are free, and loved.

In Your precious name,

Amen