Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:12-14
Our High Priest offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Hebrews 10:12
“NOTHING IN LIFE is free,” Amanda protested. “I’ve confessed my sins to God, and I’ve turned away from the bad stuff I used to do. But I figure that sometime when I mess up in the future he’s going to say, ‘I knew you would mess up again!’ I just can’t believe forgiveness is free for the asking.”
Some Christians think it’s a stretch that God actually forgives them when they confess their sins and repent. If that sounds like you, here’s how you can experience the freedom of God’s forgiveness. Start by taking a few simple steps:
- Remember that God loves you unconditionally. You are God’s special child. He willingly paid a high price-the death of his one and only Son, Jesus Christ-to reclaim you as his own.
- When you disobey God, you grieve him (see Ephesians 4:29-32). But his love for you never changes. He might discipline you to pull you close to him (see Hebrews 12:5-12), but his love stays consistent and perfect.
- The problem isn’t God’s love for you or his willingness to make things right. The problem is your sin. The logical question, then, is, “How can I experience God’s love and forgiveness when I sin?”
- Confess your sin. Even Christians can still be hassled by what the Bible calls your “sinful nature” (Romans 7:20-25). And as you let your sinful nature rather than God run your life, the result is disobedience-and a lot of unhappiness. But God has provided a solution, which begins with confession (see 1 John 1 :9). To confess means to agree with God that your disobedience and lack of faith are sin. By agreeing that sin is sin, you humble yourself before God and experience his grace and power (see 1 Peter 5:5-6).
- Claim God’s forgiveness. Confession doesn’t get you more of God’s forgiveness. Christ has already forgiven you once and for all through his death on the cross (see Hebrews 10:12-14; 1 Peter 3:18). You can’t get more forgiveness. Confession, rather, is claiming and accepting the forgiveness that is already yours.
Claiming forgiveness is like discovering a treasure that was always yours because it was buried in your own backyard. God’s loving forgiveness is already yours. Claim it and enjoy it!
REFLECT: Do you accept that God forgives your sins when you confess them and turn from them? Meditate on the Bible passages that assure you of that fact.
PRAY: Father, help me to live in the light of your love and forgiveness.
