ARCHIVE.PHP

Tag: Forgiveness

How to Have More Meaningful Relationships

Posted on by Bob Christopher

God’s process in our lives is this: first life, then change. Transformation occurs after we have been made alive together with Christ. Most often we think in terms of internal changes, such as fear turning to peace, or restlessness becoming contentment. But the Gospel also transforms our relationships.
As we grow in our knowledge of Christ and learn to abide in Him, we bear the fruit of His love for others. That is the key to more meaningful and fulfilling relationships. John and Paul explain:

  • “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 (NIV)
  • “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
  • “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 (NIV)

Healthy relationships are built on the foundation of God’s love. If you want to love others, forgive others and accept others, start with the love of God. Ask the Lord to teach you the “as I have” truths. As I have loved you, forgiven you and accepted you.
From that foundation, you can experience meaningful and fulfilling relationships.

Do this in Remembrance

Posted on by Bob Christopher

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:26-28

Tonight and tomorrow many churches will host services to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Metro Bible fellowship, our local church, will meet tonight to remember the Lord’s death. It is my favorite service of the year. The music, the Scriptures that tell the story of Jesus is final hours and participation in the Lord’s Supper provides an experience of the love of God that is deeply moving.
I know many of you will be participating in services either tonight or tomorrow which is Good Friday. No doubt that you will share in the Lord’s Supper as well. As you do, remember all that Christ has accomplished for you.
When you eat of the bread, remember the day you first trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord. That was the day you were added to the body of Christ. When Jesus was alive, the body of Christ was in singular form. He occupied the body God had prepared for him as a sin offering. Today, His body has a new form. It is made up you believers throughout the world. As Paul wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” Remember that you belong to Christ.
When you drink of the cup, you remember that this cup represents the New Covenant in which you live today. Jesus’s death brought an end to the old covenant, fulfilling it in every detail. His death also ushered in the New Covenant. In this new covenant, God remembers your sins no more and where these have been forgiven there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Remember that you are a forgiven person.
These are the truths that will help you celebrate the Lord’s Supper with a heart full of joy and thankfulness.

A Good Divorce

Posted on by Bob Christopher

Divorce happens.
It is not supposed to. God’s design for marriage has been and is “one man, one woman, until death do they part.” Here is the Bible’s last word on the subject:
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NIV)
It was never in God’s mind for a man to marry a woman and then dismiss her from his care and concern, to send her away and take no further notice of her.
Even though God does not condone divorce when it comes to marriage, He does condone it when it comes to our sins.
The word rendered divorce in the above passage is the Greek word aphiemi. Most everywhere else in the New Testament this word is translated as forgive or forgiveness. We find this word in the Lord’s Prayer, in Romans 4:7 where Paul wrote, “blessed are they whose sins are forgiven”, and in 1 John 1:9 and 2:12. This last verse is one of my favorites in the word of God: “I write to you dear children because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.”
When the Bible speaks of forgiveness it is saying to us that God has divorced us from our sins. Which means He has…

  • Removed our sins from us – Psalm 103:12
  • Sent our sins away – Hebrews 9:28
  • Dismissed our sins – Romans 4:7
  • Let our sins go from His further notice or care – Hebrews 10:17, 18
  • Released us from our relationship with sin and death and set us free to experience new life in Christ – Romans 8:1, 2.

Only God has the authority and the power to forgive. Through the shed blood of Christ He has forgiven us once and for all. He has divorced us from our sins and raised us to walk in the newness of life.
Divorce happens, but when it comes to our sins it is a good divorce.

I Can't Forgive Myself

Posted on by Bob Christopher

“I know God has forgiven me, but I am having a hard time forgiving myself.”
This might be your situation. If so, you are not alone. Many people find it difficult to forgive themselves.
Look underneath the hood of this perplexing problem and three main causes emerge.

  1. People who struggle with forgiving themselves also struggle with God’s forgiveness. They may say they know that God has forgiven them, but the fact they cannot forgive themselves indicates that they are not resting in Christ’s finished work on the cross.
  2. People wrestling with forgiving themselves constantly dwell on the sins of the past. Whenever a person dwells on past mistakes and the consequences of those mistakes, they experience guilt, shame and fear in their present. These feelings mask the truth that Christ has taken away their sins and that forgiveness is theirs.
  3. People wrestling with forgiving themselves struggle with a poor self-image. Rather than seeing themselves through God’s eyes, they see themselves in light of their sins. They may verbalize their identity in Christ, but in their hearts they still see themselves as sinners.

The path to experiencing personal forgiveness starts at the cross.
Step one is to rest in the finished work of Christ, thanking Him for the forgiveness you have in Him.

  • He died once for all of your sins. He took them away, nailing them to the cross.
  • He remembers your sins no more.
  • In Him, you are forgiven people.

Step two is to leave your past behind.

  • Since God does not remember you sins, it doesn’t make sense for you to keep dredging them up.
  • The word forgiveness means to send away or to let go. This conveys the idea of letting sins go from ones further notice or care. Jesus judged sin, he condemned sin and he paid the penalty for sin in full. He did it all.
  • Choosing not to dwell on the past is an attitude that grows out of this liberating truth.

Step three is to embrace your identity in Christ.

  • No longer are you called a sinner. God declares you to be His child. You may not feel or act like a child of God at times, but this does not change the truth.
  • God sent his Spirit into your hearts to bear witness with your human spirit that we are a child of God. This testimony breaks the bonds of fear in your life and gives confidence to draw near to God.

If you are struggling with forgiving yourself, step fully into the forgiveness of God and rest in Christ’s finished work on the cross. His forgiveness will enable you to keep your past in the past and will help you live in your identity as a child of God.

What is Repentance?

Posted on by Bob Christopher

This month’s theme on our radio broadcast has been forgiveness. We have had wonderful questions on the topic, plus some lively discussion.
There is strong push back to the liberating truth of our total and complete forgiveness in Christ. Behind most of that push back is the concept of repentance.
I throw this question out: how do you define repentance?
Let me tell you what is not before you answer. Repentance is not asking God for forgiveness when you sin. Yet, this is the most commonly held belief. When asked, “what do you do when you sin?” those who hold this belief answer, “you repent, you confess your sin and ask God to forgive you.”
Lot’s of people, both believers and unbelievers, follow this formula, but nothing changes in their lives.
Repentance is a big word that carries profound implications. That said, what is your definition of repentance?
I look forward to reading your posts. Tune in this Thursday for the radio broadcast as we take a closer look at this life-changing word.

Faith, Confidence and the Presence of God

Posted on by Bob Christopher

This room was strictly off limits. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter and only once a year. When he did enter, he had to take a blood sacrifice.
The Israelites knew it as the Holy of Holies, God’s earthly dwelling place. To enter into this room was a death sentence. What sinful man could survive in His holy presence?
A thick curtain blocked the entry. It stood for 1500 years as a warning sign to the people of Israel. “Do not enter” was the message. No one dared to go in. As long as the Mosaic Covenant stood, so did the curtain.
But that covenant came to an end. Christ’s death brought it to its completion and marked the beginning of the New Covenant. This was not an ordinary day. The earth shook, the dead came out of their graves, the curtain tore from top to bottom.
If you had been at the temple that day, you would have witnessed a supernatural event, an invisible power ripping through the thick veil. Think about standing there and seeing the inside of the most Holy place for the first time, that opening enticing you to go in. Would you have had the guts to enter?
Did anyone? The Bible doesn’t say. Some thirty years the later the Temple was destroyed, the Holy of Holies was gone. But, as the writer of Hebrews wrote, this temple was merely a copy of the heavenly throne. Christ’s blood grants us access to this throne of grace. We are encouraged to go boldly in.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV)
The blood of Jesus opened the way. He is our confidence to enter into the true Holy of Holies and experience the presence of God. We have nothing to fear, or any barriers to overcome. God is there welcoming us with open arms. In this holy place, we receive grace and mercy to help us in our time of need. Be courageous, draw near to Him in full assurance of faith.

Don't Forget This One Thing

Posted on by Bob Christopher

Growth.
Transformation.
These two words characterize those who know Jesus Christ.
At least they should.
However, far too many believers live stymied lives. They want to grow and change, yet they never seem to mature in their faith. This isn’t a new phenomenon, something that has popped up in our day and age. The writer of Hebrews made this observation: “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12 NIV)
We can’t live on milk forever. At some point, it is time to move on toward maturity, to grow in grace and be transformed by the knowledge of Christ Jesus. What keeps this from happening?
The Apostle Peter answers clearly and profoundly.
But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. (2 Peter 1:9 NIV)
Forgetting this one thing stops spiritual growth and transformation dead in its tracks. That one thing is the fact, the liberating truth, that you have been cleansed and forgiven of all sin.
Forget and you become nearsighted. You can’t see anything beyond you — your guilt and shame, your weaknesses and struggles, your fears and frustrations..
Forget and you become blind. Your spiritual eyes become shut to all that Christ has done and is doing in your life.
Forgiveness is the key to growth and transformation in Jesus Christ. Step onto that foundation and rest confidently in the truth that your sins have been taken away once and for all.
When you do, strap on your spiritual seatbelt and be prepared to experience the power of God’s love and grace to grow you in your knowledge of Christ and transform you into His image.
Just don’t forget. In Christ, you are a forgiven person.

Seven Reasons to be New Covenant

Posted on by Bob Christopher

To the fence sitters, here are seven reasons to get off the fence and boldly declare that you are a New Covenant believer.
Paul stated the reasons plainly in his letter to the Corinthians. The passage is 2 Corinthians 3. Read through it. I think you will find the seven reasons to be compelling.

  • Life — As Paul wrote, “the law kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The end of the law is death. That is the wages of sin. In the New Covenant, you receive life, Christ’s life.
  • Righteousness — The law is a ministry of condemnation. No way to feel close to God or even know that He truly loves you when you keep failing to live up to His commands. In the New, God makes you righteous in Jesus. You are accepted.
  • Eternal Security — The Old Covenant was temporary. It had a limited purpose – to show you your need for Christ. The New is eternal. Jesus’ promises and provisions last forever, which means that you are saved completely and eternally.
  • Hope — The weight of the law squeezes out all measure of hope. As the writer of Hebrews stated, apart from Christ, you live in the fearful expectation of God’s punishment . In this New Covenant, your sins have been taken away once and for all. You are forgiven. You have Jesus and He is your hope of glory.
  • Freedom — Under the law, you were in bondage to sin and death. Sin was your master, as Paul wrote. But in this New Covenant, the Spirit of Life sets you free from the law of sin and death. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
  • Transformation — Self-effort keeps you stuck in the Romans 7 trap: the things I want to do, I don’t, and the things I don’t want to do, I do. But in the New Covenant you are transformed into the likeness of Christ, from glory to glory.
  • Jesus — Under law, it is all about you and your ability to live up to the standards. In the New, Jesus lives His life through you. He was the One who was revealed when the curtain in the temple was torn. He is God’s gift to you.

It is time to get off the fence. Make the declaration: “I am a New Covenant believer!”

Who is in Control?

Posted on by Bob Christopher

Are you saying that since you are totally forgiven you can just go out and do anything you want? Anytime the grace of God is discussed, the critics drone away with this ridiculous question. All it does is betray their shallow understanding of salvation.
In Christ, we have received much more than forgiveness. We have been made alive so that we could walk in the newness of life led and guided by God’s Holy Spirit. Is God’s Spirit going to lead you to sin? To the person who believes that salvation is nothing more than the forgiveness of sins, freedom doesn’t make sense. So they ask the question.
The question isn’t new. Paul was hit with it almost everywhere he traveled. He gave an alarming answer to these critics in 1 Corinthians 6:12: “everything is permissible to me.” Yes, he was free to submit to the desires of the flesh. And so are you. But what was more important to Paul was that in Christ he was free to submit to the desires of the Spirit. And guess what? You are too. Both are permissible, but only one is profitable.
Here is the real issue. When we give in to the desires of the flesh we put ourselves under the control of sin. For the child of God, this doesn’t make sense. Paul didn’t want to be mastered by anything. He had had enough of that as a lost person. He wanted to live his life under the control of the Holy Spirit and experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.
We are not independent beings, we are dependent. But God has given us the freedom to choose who or what we will depend upon at any given moment. Who is in control? That is the question we should be asking. When we submit to the desires of the Spirit, we will experience the abundant life Jesus promised. Who is in control of your life?

Forgiveness

Posted on by Bob Christopher

God remembers your sins no more. I don’t know about you, but when the lights came on concerning this truth, my life changed.
For the longest time, it seemed everywhere I went, or whatever I tried to do, guilt was right there with me, haunting me and toying with my mind. My sins weren’t the stuff of legend, but they were sins just the same and they (I) deserved to be punished. But when, how? I didn’t have the answer, only the sobering thought that some day God was going to punish me.
Even though I knew of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, forgiveness was not a reality. I wasn’t even convinced that it was a possibility. I wondered if God was willing to forgive me at all. I pleaded with Him, asked Him into my life countless times, but still guilt kept hanging around, until…
Hebrews 10. There, I found out exactly what Jesus’ sacrifice did for me. His work on the cross cleansed me, took away my sins, made me holy and perfect in God’s sight, and fulfilled the old covenant on my behalf. And this just blows my mind: Jesus’ death erased my sins from God’s memory.
Oh, the relief I felt knowing that my sins had been forgiven once and for all, and then to be unshackled from the guilt and shame. They kept telling me I could never go into the throne of grace, even though the door was wide open. But no more, forgiveness is mine. I’ve entered in. How about you?