August 17, 2010

This is it.

Forgiveness [unfinished]

Forgiveness

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 NIV

In a conversation, I have shared to a friend that what could release her from her bitterness is forgiveness.  She said that she couldn't do it.  I told her, a person can only forgive if he/she has experienced real forgiveness in her life. 

An insight came to me after today's Sunday service.  A person has to realize that he has sinned in order to pave way for repentance, forgiveness and genuine freedom from guilt.  When we say that it is thru Jesus Christ's death on the cross that our sins has been forgiven, it doesn't mean that our sins were just pardoned without paying the cost.  What happened was Jesus received the wages of our sins [which is death] on our behalf.  He has become the sacrifice for our sins - the blameless lamb of God.  He did it because of love.  For God so loved that world that He gave his only Son [Jesus] that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have an everlasting life.  Sounds familiar?  That's John 3:16.  The salvation we would receive from accepting Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior is not cheap.  The life of Jesus was given for the forgiveness of our sins.  The Lord has already made the first step. Will you accept His forgiveness?