Forgiven by Jennifer Neely

I used to imagine I was a good person.

I measured my behaviour and life-style choices against a moral code I'd devised based on what I felt was right, just and good. I was largely regarded as a nice person with a "strong moral compass." I was kind to people; I went out of my way not to offend people; I helped others when I could; I was liberal-minded and tolerant, and prided myself in being open-minded.

The hardest lesson I had to learn when I became a Christian is that I'd been living in open rebellion against God all my life and was sinful from beginning to end. By rejecting His principles as antiquated and irrelevant and setting my own standard of goodness, I had chosen to live in defiance of the perfectly holy and just Creator God. The Bible is quite clear on the result of this decision: the wages of sin is death (ROMANS 6:23).

The most beautiful lesson I have learned since becoming a Christian is that despite knowing the depths of our sinfulness, God has provided us a way out. You see, as well as being holy and just, God is merciful, because though the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (ROMANS 6:23). In Jesus' death on the cross, God has secured the means of forgiving us and purifying us of our sinfulness, and in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (EPHESIANS 1:7). 

The means of obtaining this forgiveness is simple: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (ROMANS 10:9).

There is nothing you could have done, no action so awful, no choice so despicable that debarres you from God's offer of mercy: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 JOHN 1:9). No caveats, no hidden clauses, no exceptions.

Behind door number 17 of my Advent calendar is forgiveness. 

Do you feel the need for it?

#advent2018 

#itsallaboutjesus

#nogreatergift