Subject: Everybody dies with recent sins |
Bible Note: Hello G Preston, I'm not sure you'll find scripture teaching a pattern of forgiveness? :-) I had found myself in a similar "pattern" years ago that in effect became a vicious treadmill. I was always trying to "get forgiven" instead of walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7) and walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). Please don't hear what I'm not saying:-) Does God forgive us based upon what we "would have done"? No, rather our forgiveness is based upon what he has done in Christ Jesus. Eph. 1:7 states, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (NASB) So, it is (only by) being "in Him" that we have redemption. This redemption is through his blood (shed on the cross), and it is "according to the riches of His grace", not my sense of it or my confession of them! My forgiveness is not conditioned by something I do, rather than what God in Christ has alrady done for me. (Eph. 2:1-9ff) Is this not what scripture teaches? We are imputed the forgiveness, justification and are therefore at peace with God when we believe (Rom. 5:1). This is a sovereign act of God. Forgiveess is imputed to us based upon the all-sufficient atoning death of Christ on the cross for your and my sins (John. 19:30, 1 John 2:2) I would respectfully submit that it not a "common sense thing" as much as it is a biblically based completed work! (I'm not advocating antinomianism by any means) Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |