"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Live as one who is Forgiven!

My heart rejoices in the Lord Jesus Christ! That he would pay the price of my sin in whole; that he would punish my sin by substituting his own life on my behalf; that he would call me righteous--make me righteous--in the sight of God, not because of anything I have done, but completely by what he has done for me! Hallelujah! Praise Him!

I cannot add to what Christ has done. I cannot earn His gift to me.

My heart is convicted of my sin against my Holy Father. For all those times I've diminished the Cross into a lie. "If my sin is paid for in full, then let's go on sinning so that grace may abound!" Oh how foolish. And yet I know I have thought such things.

John Piper says, "So if all you can see in the Cross of Jesus is a license to go on sinning, then you don't have saving faith. You need to fall on your face and plead that God would open your eyes to see the compelling Glory of Jesus Christ."

The cross is not the place where sin is excused but the place where sin is killed. When we see the cross as an open door to continued sin, we see a lie, and miss seeing the true glory of Jesus Christ. Jesus meets us in death so that we can meet him in new life! He did what we are completely incapable of.

Sin is conquered. The enemy defeated. He can attack me all he wants, but he'll never deal the death blow, because the weapon of unforgiven sin he does not hold against me!

Here is an article that I urge you to read. I beg you to read! Don't let sin keep you from Christ and service to him. If you are not a Christian, ask Jesus for the complete forgiveness that only He can give. If you are a Christian, walk boldly into the thrown room of God with Jesus as your High Priest and live as one who is forgiven!

read John Pipers "Gutsy Guilt"