In this world, forgiveness is often very difficult to obtain. Fact is, many people will never forgive you, no matter what you say or do. For Christians, however, things are different; if we truly repent of our sins, we ARE FORGIVEN, period.
This is by no means a matter of small consequence. Forgiveness of ALL OUR SINS is something that we can rejoice in- and should. I really like the way the Apostle Paul discusses his own situation in the book of Philippians, where he says…
Philippians 3 ( World English Bible )
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
7 However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;
11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.
God’s forgiveness extends far beyond just someone like Paul; it is for everyone that has ever existed and truly repented. No matter how small the matter or how large, Jesus has paid the price for everyone, period.
Paul exhorted the Philippian Christians to rejoice and they should have. The thing is that this admonishment applies to us all. Today, pray about your own life and if something is wrong ask for forgiveness. You can count on Jesus to be there for you because he cared enough to die for you. If you are not a Christian, become one ( Acts 2:14- 41 ).
REJOICE, THERE IS HOPE!
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