Life-Changing Forgiveness

Life-Changing Forgiveness
By John Woodward
October 20, 1998

In Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables", the main character had a life-changing experience of forgiveness. After finally being released following 19 years in a chain gang, Jean Valjean stole some silver from a kind bishop who took the risk of offering him hospitality for the night. Valjean was caught and arrested. Instead of condemning the thief, the bishop acted as though the silver were a gift and even gave Valjean precious silver candlesticks as well. This surprising, gracious act of forgiveness motivated Valjean to heed the challenge to repent and change his ways. On a grander scale, God has given every sinner who repents the life-changing experience of forgiveness through faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Yes, Jesus "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works ."(Titus 2:14). "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12). God's wonderful forgiveness motivates the believer to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4).

Although we have a saving relationship through Christ, this does not exempt us from temptation, or prevent us from committing sins (1 John 1:8). As Miles Stanford puts it, "When we rest in our position in Christ, we find that we are in the light. We know that our sins have been purged once for all and therefore our conscience is cleansed. At the same time, we are very much aware that although we abide in our risen Lord Jesus, our everyday Christian life is carried on in a sinful world. There are sins committed as we grow, because we take our eyes off the Lord Jesus and foolishly rely on self; a defiled conscience and broken fellowship are the result." (The Complete Green Letters, p. 131).

Have you wondered why we need to confess our sins which we commit after being saved, if they were all paid for at Calvary? The explanation lies in the distinction between our POSITION in Christ and our CONDITION in the Christian life. In Christ our position is rooted in grace and does not change (Rom 5:1; 8:1). We are clothed in Christ's righteousness (Phil 3:9). Yet when we sin, our condition changes, i.e. we grieve the Holy Spirit and hinder our fellowship with God (Eph 4:30; Ps 66:18). To restore unhindered communion with the Lord, we must confess our sins, identifying and repenting of them (1 John 1:9).

God not only cleanses us and restores us to fellowship as we confess our sins, but He graciously teaches us even through our failures. As F.B. Meyer wrote, "Through our sins we have learned, as never before, to appreciate God's forgiveness; through our failures we have been taught our weakness, and led to magnify the grace which is made perfect in weakness." (Our Daily Walk, p.315).

May our hearts be filled with gratitude for God's life-changing forgiveness so that we maintain constant communion with our gracious Savior.

Our Father, we are so amazed at the infinite power of Christ's work on Calvary's cross. Thank you that the payment for all of our sins was finished there. Give us grateful hearts that we may walk in a new quality of life. Sensitize us to anything which grieves Your Holy Spirit so we may enjoy unhindered communinoin with You always. In Your grace, amen.

JBW

Oct. 20, '98

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