Father Forgive Them – Forgive Who?

Posted on May 20, 2022 by paulwlane

Luke 23:34

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

The King of Glory spoke these words from the cross. These were among some of the last brief statements that He made. Who exactly was He speaking to?

Of course He spoke to the Roman Soldiers. They were standing there jeering and cursing having just nailed Him to the cross. Of course it was their job. They had been commanded to do so. It was probably not the first crucifixion detail they had been assigned. But this One was different. This One claimed to be the Son of God. He had stated that He would build the temple back in three days if it were destroyed. The man was mad. It had taken forty years to build. They gambled for His clothes at the foot of the cross as they watched Him die. Was it really the Roman soldiers He spoke of in His prayer to the Father?
Maybe, it was the Jewish crowd that He spoke to that was gathered there that day. They had swarmed around Him as He had healed their sick, their blind and lame, cast out demonic spirits, fed them on occasion, and told them all types of parables and stories of God and His kingdom. Now they had turned on Him because He did not fulfill their desires of who the Messiah should really be. They had just recently shouted, “Hosanna, Hail King of the Jews.” Then they shouted, “Crucify Him.” Was it really the Jewish crowd He asked His Father to forgive?
Or, maybe it was His disciples, especially the ones who had fled and were afraid and in hiding. Only John was present there with His mother and some other women who had been part of those who had followed Him from town to town and around the countryside. Peter, especially, was always boasting and speaking all kind of big statements. He obviously did not really know what he was saying. Was it His cowardly disciples He asked His Father to forgive?
Or, maybe He saw ahead in time and saw that crowd as they were stoning Stephen to death, and especially that Saul of Tarsus character who was standing by as the stones killed this first martyr to His cause. That crowd that was so full of hatred against Stephen. Surely that is who He meant that forgiveness for.
Perhaps it was further on down in time when the early Christians were martyred in the coliseum of Rome by wild animals and killed by hanging, and torture of all kinds. Surely their persecutors were included in His statement from the cross. And on down thru the Inquisition and throughout all the persecution of the Middle Ages. What about John Hus who was burned alive and all the others who where killed in nearly every country of the world. Surely His statement was meant for them.
What about all the wars fought in the name of religion, the Crusades, the Protestants against the Catholics and the Catholics against the Protestants? Surely He had these in mind when He prayed His Father to forgive them.
What about the barbarians throughout the world who committed wholesale slaughter of whole groups and nationalities of peoples simply because they were different. Men like Stalin, Hitler, Idi Amin, and the butchers in Rwanda. Certainly He was speaking of them.
Or maybe He was speaking of all those native tribes and people in other lands, who because of their ignorance, killed missionaries and many other innocent people who were there just to preach to them the good news of salvation. Surely that is who He meant.
Or maybe He looked out to our time and saw you and I when He was there on the Cross. “Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree. Amazing pity, grace unknown and love beyond degree.” I ask myself, “Was it me He was speaking of as He hung there with His life’s blood ebbing out drop by drop”. When He was there hanging on that Cross, could I have been on His mind? Was my sin that I commit day by day, year by year without regard to my own eternity what He had in mind as He spoke that day. Am I so calloused by my constant denial of wrong that I fail to grasp the total sacrifice that was made for me that day? Surely He was speaking of me from the cross that day.

Each of us alone can respond to that statement and cry out to Him in forgiveness.

“Yes Lord, I need your forgiveness. Yes Lord, I am guilty. Yes Lord, I repeatedly do the same thing over and over again and I do it because I want to do what I do. I know better. I know right from wrong. I am guilty. I should have hung on the cross…not you Lord. Father forgive me for I do know what I do.”

Forgiveness

Posted on May 6, 2022 by paulwlane

Luke 11:2-4

So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Forgiveness is not an option

Matthew 6:15 – But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25-26 – And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 5:23-24 – Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

We need to forgive ourselves

Romans 8:1-2; 14-16 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Forgiveness is not a question of how often

Matthew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Our example

Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

The Forgiveness of Sins

Posted on December 29, 2021 by paulwlane

Acts 13:38-39

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The Message is preached unto you.

Acts 13:38-39 – Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The Source – Jesus, a Prince and Savior.

Acts 5:31 – Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

The Ground – for His name’s sake.

1 John 2:12 – I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

The Means – through His blood

Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

The Condition – if we confess our sins.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Extent – all trespasses

Colossians 2:13 – And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

The Measure – the riches of His grace

Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Give Me Freedom

Posted on October 22, 2021 by paulwlane

Romans 6:16-18

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Show me a person who is not a slave!!!!

“One is enslaved to passions, a second to profit, a third to status and everyone to fear.” Seneca, first century Roman philosopher.

What are you a slave to?

Romans 6:16-18 – All of us were ( “were”) slaves to sin for Christ saved us by the shedding of His blood on the cross when we finally got around to recognizing that we had been a slave to sin. We came as sinners to the foot of the cross and acknowledged our need of a Savior. He forgave us. Yea! Hallelujah!

There is no moral authority today – if it feels good, do it!

Proverbs 30:12 – There is a class of people who are pure in their own eyes, and yet not washed from their own filth.”

Isaiah 5:20 – Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.

Romans 12:1-2 – I urge you by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Some of us, still knowing we were forgiven, remained in slavery, bound to some of our sin or at least some of the beggarly elements of servitude. What should have been a radical transformation and total about-face seemed partial or non-existent.

Oh yes, we were saved but we certainly had not been really transformed in the way we thought, talked and behaved and continued to live our life.

Story is told of a young man who had an addiction to donuts, eating six or seven at a time. He was very overweight. He worked on it and lost a lot of weight. He woke up one morning craving a donut. When he arrived at work with a donut, his coworker questioned him, saying “I thought you had given up donuts.”

His response: “I prayed and told God if there was an open parking spot right in front of the donut shop when I went by, I would know it was okay for me to stop and get a donut” What he did not tell his coworker was that there was an open parking spot on his eleventh time around the block. That’s about the way we treat temptation.

We read our Bible when we thought about it and did not have anything else to do like a favorite TV program, shopping, watching a football game, watching “As the Stomach Turns”, going to Olive Garden or McDonalds or whatever else was transient gratification. (That’s a big word for “current need for self-satisfaction.”) We prayed, especially when we got into trouble.

A Christian is someone who changed – transformed – made new in His image – set free from slavery. That’s really the crux of this whole thing. We had gone through the motions of being set free, but we were still in fact enslaved. Christ had forgiven us up to that point (repeat) of our asking for forgiveness.

The Bible say “For He (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We had, so to speak, by asking forgiveness, emptied the backpack of sins on our back. Sins we had carried around, or was it a duffle bag full, or maybe it was two duffle bags full or maybe it was a wheelbarrow and a duffle bag. For me it was a dumpster – not the kind sitting out back, but the kind they drop off at a house getting a demo job. (sins)

Actually we were still enslaved, though forgiven.

Don’t misunderstand me – Christ did forgive us when we asked Him to – no more guilt from all the baggage of sin. No real change, however, we just started stacking up the whole rotten, stinking load again. We were still enslaved – saved from our sin of the past but now we are like a totally irresponsible person and our enslavement begins all over again in a life of guilt and shame.

We had prayed – maybe we shed a few crocodile tears, maybe some minor course correction but really still enslaved. If we are to be Christ-like there should be some change in our life.

The book of Jeremiah is a book of doom in so many ways; a tale of God’s wrath and judgment for man’s failure to follow Him. But hope is intermingled there. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

That scripture is the promise of hope that even in our sin, our turning away, our rejection of Him who loves us, even in the midst of His judgment He offers hope. He offers us the best that we could ever hope to have.

That’s what Jeremiah is about….that sums it up. It’s not about simply turning from sin because it is wrong. It’s not about simply turning from sin because it means a turning back to God. God wants these things, but He wants them because, like any good father or husband, he does not want us suffering the consequences of sin. You may be forgiven from your sin but that sin put a scar on your memory that you may never forget and Satan will taunt you over it even though you are now a follower of Jesus. Believe me, I know from a personal standpoint and I’m old. He wants to provide something far more wonderful than our dreams and hopes could imagine. He wants His people to be in good marriages (remember – we are the Bride of Christ) not just because it is right, but because it is through marriage, through our relationship with Him that He can shower upon us love, security, purpose, hope. It is where He can demonstrate what the union between god and man is meant to be. Paul used marriage as a way to explain the church’s relationship with God. God wants us to avoid sin and turn to Him, because he has been planning since the foundation of the earth to give us good things.

We turn away from God’s commands out of fear, anger, rebellion, stupidity and we miss not simply heaven, but in the here and now we miss an abundant life. There is hope amidst the judgment, joy among the bitterness, grace amidst the sin. God promises in Jeremiah that “when we get serious about searching for Him and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you are not disappointed.” God is not a lover that disappoints; He is not a shady salesman or politician.

This passage of hope in Jeremiah comes after he says in the preceding verse that “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years of captivity are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home.” This promise does not negate His judgment of the consequences of sin, but God, knowing the rejection of Israel (and of us) having dealt the punishment we deserve, He gives His people a second chance. He says He has plans for them, to take care of them, to not abandon them, to give them a future, a hope. The people who so poorly treated Him are offered the keys to the kingdom, so to speak. It is proof that God’s wrath and judgment are not enough to extinguish His love or His belief in His people.

Jeremiah is a book of judgment laced with hope.

There is a consequence for sin but we have hope.

We simply were not free. We were still enslaved. We had experienced

Christ’s free gift of grace, but it was like we were – in spite of His grace – bad, bad, bad.

Romans 6:1-4 says “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may more abound. The answer – No – No – No

Romans 6:3-6 – Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

Galatians 5:24 – Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

We have been set free. Let us walk in that freedom in obedience to God.

I’m free!

If Anyone Can Hear – Then Listen!

Posted on September 20, 2021 by paulwlane

Revelation 13:9

If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

Seven times in Revelation in chapters 2 and 3, we see a similar phrase: “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church.” This command tells us there is something important to notice.

James 1:19-20 – Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires.

Why do we question instead of listen?

We want to know – this is a legitimate reason

We want to be heard and/or seen

We want to manipulate the topic of discussion to get our point of view across

We want to show everyone we know more than others

We just want to hog the conversation

Why do we judge instead of listen?

We feel superior to others (self-righteous)

We want to show how good we are

We think we know more than others

Matthew 7:1-2 – Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

Why are we so quick to answer or respond, to “set the record straight,” to make a defense?

We think we know it all

We think our opinion is more important than others

Maybe we are guilty and are uncomfortable with topic

We never want to suppress or discourage questions – genuine questions. But maybe our questions would be answered if we would but listen. God gave us one mouth, two ears. Maybe He was trying to tell us something.

We want God to hear us when we pray

Psalm 5:1 – Listen to my words, O Lord, give heed to my sighing and groaning.

Psalm 17:6 – I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me and hear my speech.

Psalm 54:2 – Hear my pleading and my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

If we indeed want God to hear us, we should listen to

His Word

His commands

His ministers

There are some very definite commands to the New Testament Church

Take up your cross daily

Deny yourself

Submit one to another

Submit to God

Before partaking of communion, “examine yourself.” We spend a lot of time examining everybody else, then we take two minutes examining our self before communion. We take communion feeling all is okay – then we go back and repeat the cycle all over again.

If we go back into sin, turning from God, we are to “repent and do our first works over again.”

Make restitution when we have failed someone

Ask forgiveness when we have offended someone

Pay our debts

Love one another

These are only a few of the commands in the Word of God, but we need to study His Word and obey His word.

If you can hear, then listen!!!!!!!!

Forgiveness Brings Healing – Healing Brings Forgiveness

Posted on July 26, 2021 by paulwlane

James 5:13-16

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Specific needs require specific answers. Only one answer will work in each situation. God’s way! Suffering, sickness can take many forms. Healing is provided if we take the right medicine. When a doctor gives a medicine, he writes a prescription. There are specific ways to take the medication. It is the same way spiritually.

Suffering and sickness is not only a physical need. It can include

Emotional needs
Financial needs
Marital needs
Sinful problems

Healing is provided for all, but we need to follow the “prescription.”

Call for the elders of the church
Anoint with oil
Prayer of faith

Byproduct of following the “prescription” is – sins forgiven.

Verse 16 – Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Ephesians 4:32 – Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 6:12-15 – And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Unity of the brothers/sisters – Let it go or retain it (anger/bitterness or forgiveness

Matthew 18:15-20 – Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Mark 11:24-26 – Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.

Jesus speaks to the whole man – spiritual, physical, emotional, your whole being. Forgiveness brings healing.

God’s Love and Our Response

Posted on July 7, 2021 by paulwlane

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Because of God’s love, we need to confess our sin.

Do you confess your sin by name? Or, do you generalize?

Do you confess AND then forsake your sin?

Are you willing to give up all sin for God? To live a holy life

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Because of God’s love, we need to always endeavor to keep our relationship with others free of offenses.

Do you consistently seek forgiveness from those who you wrong or offend?

Can you say that your conscience is clear with everyone?

Acts 24:16 – This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Because of God’s love, we need to make sure that all we do, all we say, all we think brings glory to the name of the Lord Jesus.

Do you love what God loves? Hate what God hates?

Do you value highly the things that please God?

Do I forgive others as God has forgiven me?

Do I value the Word of God, taking time to read/study/absorb the truths in the Word?

Do I teach and caution others?

Do I give thanks to God?

Colossians 3:12-17 – Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Because of God’s love, we need to be sensitive to the conviction and prompting of God’s Spirit.

Are you quick to respond to the voice of God?

Are you willing to seek reconciliation with someone who is offended with you?

Titus tells us we have become heirs of God and have the hope of eternal life. As we receive that great love and gift of God, our hearts should be so grateful that we will joyfully and lovingly want to follow God’s Word in all we do, all we think, all we say, all we are.

Names of God – His Name is Forgiveness

Posted on June 7, 2021 by paulwlane

Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

My Name is Forgiveness

Micah 7:18-19 – Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Nehemiah 9:17 – …But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.

Psalm 130:1-4 – Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.

Psalm 86:5 – For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Quote of David Wilkerson – “Discovering the Lord as a God who forgives is the only way out of all our depths of despair, all the casting down of our souls brought on by guilt and condemnation.”

No hope – no hope – no hope – but then the shadow of a cross appeared. The sun grew dark with misery, the moon was cold and chill. But then the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill.

Without Christ – hopeless eternity
With Christ – eternal hope

A perverted concept of forgiveness is prevalent in the world today.

We recognize that God is good
We recognize that God is merciful
We recognize that God is longsuffering
We recognize that God forgives all sin

BUT

· There is no repentance
There is no change of heart
There is no attitude change

We feel sorry for the moment because we do not want God’s judgment and we do not want to go to hell, but we do not really change our way of living.

Isaiah 55:7 – Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord,
and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sin is seen throughout the Bible.

God killed animals to made clothes for Adam and Eve
Abel sacrificed
Abraham – the ram caught in the bushes
The sacrifices in the Old Testament revealed God’s nature of forgiveness
John 3:16 reinforced it
Jesus’ fulfillment of that promise completed the work

Hebrews 10:18 – And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

God’s continued call to repentance from beginning to end is proof that there is forgiveness in His name. There is forgiveness through His blood.

Admonitions Against Sin

Posted on March 24, 2021 by paulwlane

Galatians 5:17-21

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The number of sins listed in Galatians 5 are 18. Obviously, there are countless more than this and we hesitate to admit we have come close to committing many of them. As society plummets headlong and blindly into the abyss, there are more being added every day due to modern technology and the desire, sinful and lusting, to satisfy an unsatisfied craving, an itch that needs to be scratched.

A renewing of the mind is what is needed in our world today. The cravings that were in existence a generation ago are magnified beyond belief.

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Corinthians 6:4-10 – If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Self-control and personal accountability are needed in our lives.

Colossians 3:5-9 – Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

Forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness is what is needed. But we have rights, we shout. And we do. But our rights are not available to us except through the scriptures that shout to us, “love one another.”

1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Oh our big mouth! What damage it does. If only our spiritual IQ was as big as our mouth. We would have converted the whole world by now. And caustic! Oh, how much damage we do with our tongues, probably equal to all the rest of the things we are guilty of. God help us!

James 3:6-8 – And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Christ Has Set Us Free

Posted on March 1, 2021 by paulwlane

Colossians 2:13-15

And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. Amplified Bible

THE CONDITION OF MAN – SIN AND DEATH

Man’s concept of sin is different than God’s as stated in the Bible. Man does not see sin as a violation of God’s will. This simply shows how weak man and his ideas and thinking are in comparison to God. Man looks at sin and calls it

Human error
Personal slip
Moral flaw
Physical failure
Character defect
Shortcoming
Immaturity
Unpreventable
Misunderstanding
Mistake
Irresponsibility
Semantics

Labeling sin something other than it is – sin – does not change it in God’s eyes, nor does it change the penalty for sin. We may blame sin or whatever we choose to call it – the result of our environment, training, heritage, and/or belief or a combination of these. Whatever we call sin or what ever we blame it on does not really matter. In God’s eyes sin is sin. Sin is a violation of God’s law or will. Sin is also rebellion and insurrection against Him and the way He has told mankind to live.

SAY NO TO SIN AND YES TO GOD!!

Man’s view of death, the penalty for sin, also varies according to a person’s background and beliefs. Some of the views of death that man has come up with are

Ceasing to exist
Passing into oblivion
A semi-conscious state
A deep sleep
Reincarnation into another form of life
Moving into another dimension

Most of men’s ideas about death involve either denial of a life hereafter or else another chance to work oneself into the favor of God. All of man’s ideas and concepts of sin and death are based on man’s knowledge, man’s ability, man’s energy, and man’s power to somehow make himself acceptable to God. If mankind could make himself acceptable to God, then Christ died in vain. But He did die and we cannot make ourselves acceptable.

If there was something I could do on my own, there was no reason for Christ to go to the cross. But He did go to the cross and we cannot atone for our sins.

There would have been no need for the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ to give of Himself on the cross for our sins. But He did!

There would have been no need for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ to give of His blood for the redemption of fallen man. But He did!

There would have been no need for our precious Lord, our Healer to take upon Himself stripes on His back for our healing. But He did!

There would have been no need for our provider, Jesus Christ the Righteous, to cry out to the Father in heaven asking pardon for you and I. But He did!

There would have been no need for our Savior, Jesus Christ, to suffer pain and torment at the hands of wicked men so that we might have everlasting freedom. But He did!

We cannot help ourselves so Christ gave Himself on the cross.

THE CONDITION OF MAN BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS

Man has a chance for new life because of the cross.
Man has a chance for new life because of Christ’s sacrifice.
Man has a chance if he will repent of his sins and change his way of living.
Man has a chance if he will surrender to God.
Man has a chance if he will throw himself on the mercy of God.
Man has a chance if he will submit to God.
Because of the cross I

Have new life
Hope eternal
Forgiveness
I am free

John 5:24 – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Ephesians 2:1-8 – And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once con-ducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Isaiah 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

Romans 8:6 – To be carnally (fleshly) (worldly) minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

CHRIST IS OUR HOPE

All requirements of the Law were fulfilled in Jesus Christ

613 laws of Moses
248 prohibitions – “Thou shall not”
365 affirmations – “Thou shall”

There is no need for us to go back to the Law of Moses and try to follow all those requirements, holidays, holy days, dietary laws, purification laws, sacrificing laws. The Pharisees tried to keep the Law. They could not! The Law pointed toward Jesus Christ and since He has appeared these laws are no longer needed. It is just like you receive a gift at Christmas or a birthday or for some other day or occasion. After the gift is opened and you have taken it for yourself and begin to enjoy it, you no longer keep the package or the wrapping paper that it came in. That is not the important part of the gift. The gift came in the package. The gift was not the package. Christ is now here. He was and is God’s gift to fallen man. He is our Hope; our only Hope.

All the guilt charges, all the condemnation, all the crimes heaped against you and I, and all mankind from the beginning of creation were nailed to the cross. He was saying my blood is enough to do away with them all. The sacrificial lambs all pointed toward this day but they could only cover the sin. I’m cleansing it; I’m washing it away for all time. Just receive it. It is finished. He conquered it all…He made a public display of the fact that your sins and mine were nailed to the cross, triumphing over all principalities, powers, evil forces, demonic foes that might come against you. Christ conquered all that. So why do we feel defeated? There is no need. You are set free in Jesus Christ. Just receive it. Just believe it.

Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:37 – I am more than a conqueror through Him (Christ Jesus) who loved us (me).

John 12:31-32 – Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

Hebrews 3:14-15 – “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

1 John 3:8b – For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world (me, you, all mankind), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (me, you, all mankind that will receive) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Thoughts of a Retired Pastor

Tag Archives: forgiveness