December 28, 2016 OUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID
Colossians 2:13-14: “And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
Certainly, one of the basic tenants if the Christian faith is that of forgiveness of sins. Sometimes, because we hear something so often, what we are hearing presently may not have its intended impact. We have all done things and said things that were a sin against God, and when we remember sins of the past, certain images or memories may come to mind. If we have not experienced genuine forgiveness, the thoughts of past sins may ‘haunt’ us and bring us continual grief. Many believers find themselves being in bondage to the memories of sins of the past, indicating that they do not yet know the full forgiveness of God. The verses above are primarily referring to the sins we committed before salvation when we were in bondage to sin and sinners by nature. Once a person is converted to faith in Christ, he or she is given a new heart and a new spirit and are no longer in bondage to sin. Even though believers are no longer sinners by nature, they may choose to sin. The scriptures teach that when a believer sins, God forgives him and cleanses him when he confesses and turns from the sin. Often, it is pride that stands in the way of confessing our sin; we may find it difficult to admit that we did sin, and we try to justify, trivialize, or place the blame on others for our sin. Also, it is pride that prevents us from forgiving ourselves, even though God forgives us. Should we find ourselves being defeated by the memories of past sins, we should go back to that night in Bethlehem when the angles proclaimed the good news of great joy, that a Savior has been born. God made provision for the sins of man, and that provision was the birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus, and all who place their faith in Jesus as Savior, are fully forgiven from all sin-past, present, and future. (When a believer sins, until the is confessed, it interrupts the fellowship we have with God.) It is really quite simple; anytime we sin, the Holy Spirit will convict us of the sin, and the moment we confess our sin, we are fully forgiven and our fellowship with our Father is restored. Let us not over-analyze or become overly introspective regarding sin, but let us know that God went to great lengths to bring forgiveness and set us free from the power of sin. Whether it is sins we committed before becoming a believer, or sins we have committed as a believer, the blood of Jesus cleanses US from ALL sin! When a past sin comes to mind, use it as a springboard to thank God for His forgiveness.
Colossians 1:13-14: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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