September 25, 2009 by Doug Davis 0 comments

1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

  It seems my conversations with a few people lately, have been around the issue of past sins in their lives haunting them. Now to set the stage, these are people who say they are believers in Christ. However, they are stuck with the guilt of their sin, even after their confession of the sin and feel undeserving of the forgiveness and grace that has been spoken to them. Living in the "Bible Belt" has some advantages, but there are times in which I wish this was not the case.                         

"Pastor, I have lived a rough life. If only you knew what I have done." This statement is one of profound loss. Having been found guilty in their own hearts by the Law, they see what they have become and what they wish they could have been. My heart breaks when I hear this coming from a person who claims to have faith in Christ. Here is a person who has heard the Good News and yet has not experienced the peace that comes with the grace.

  All to often this statement is followed with reasons for not having been in church for so long, or the reason they left the church. "I am tired of being told I am not good enough and going to hell." My first reaction is to ask who the jerk is that is preaching this message of hopelessness to them! But, I resist and my heart breaks even more.
They have been hammered with the Law so hard, they have not only been crushed by the weight of the Law and brought to the point of conviction, which is the intent and rightful purpose of the Law, but then continued to be beaten by the Law, so as to produce good works and righteous living! The Law was added so we may see our trespasses, repent and turn to the grace of God. Romans 5:20

Yes, we are to be sorry for our sins, that is part of the process of repentance and coming before God to receive forgiveness. We need to turn from our sin and move in another direction. The Apostle Paul speaks of the grace we have been given and the change in our life. We who have Christ Jesus in our lives have been reborn and are dead to sin and alive in Christ. God's grace is sufficient to cover our sins, no matter how big or how many times we have sinned. We need to know we have died to sin, not just wounded in sin and now much suffer. Romans 6:1-2  If we think we can work to add to, or enhance our chances for forgiveness and find peace. We need to be reminded of what God has done for us, because we cannot do it for ourselves. "God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21  That my dear brothers and sisters is the grace of God, by God's grace He send His son to die for us, so that we may obtain that which is beyond our grasp...forgiveness of our sins and life eternal. John 3:16

Satan will use your guilt to turn you from the grace and peace of God. Telling you his lies, that God really can't forgive you of all that you have done. But that is far from the truth. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus has paid the price for your sin. Ask for the forgiveness that is waiting for you. Come with a repentive heart  and place your sins at the foot of the Cross of Jesus and take in exchange peace and new life.

In His Grip!
Pastor Doug