Do you believe God, when he says through the Word of God that he is not counting men's (your sins) against you? Or, are you believing men when they say, "that God has made it possible for us to be pardoned from our sins and transgressions of the law. God offers us the gift of forgiveness if we believe that Jesus Christ died in our place."?
Which is correct today? Did Jesus forgive you of all of your sins and not counting them against you, or do you need more forgiveness by God today? If God is not counting your sins against you, then your sins are not separating you from God. Your transgressions (sins) are already pardoned (forgiven). God is not offering forgiveness today; God is offering salvation of eternal life. God freely gave us all forgiveness. We can choose to confess and agree with God and receive it (accept it, believe it, grab hold of it, rest in it, place faith, confidence, and trust in it, settle it, reconcile it in your heart) or not. It's your choice, and be sure not to go down the wrong path with men placing heavy weights upon your shoulders, taking a verse or two from the bible out of context, as many do. Read about understanding 1 John, and the Lord's Prayer before and after the cross.
Forgiveness is Not a Vending Machine
Forgiveness is not a vending machine from God. You don't place your requests for pardons for lying, worrying, cheating, stealing, lusting, adultery, anger, and murdering transgressions in to God, and out plops forgiveness for sins. No one gets their sins forgiven today!
"What did you say, are you crazy!?"
Your sins have already been taken care of. God forgave everyone their sins on the cross 2000 years ago. Not believing, or trusting, or feeling like it, or placing faith that God forgave you, doesn't negate the fact that God did indeed forgive you.
The only consequence (wages) of sin before God today that needs corrected is death to life. The consequence of sin is death, not lack of forgiveness. Are there consequences for sins today in the world? Yes, but not by God. God keeps no records of your wrongs.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
We are all born into this world dead (spiritually dead) and need spiritual life. Sin's affect was spiritual death for all of mankind. God forgave everyone their sins at the cross, so that everyone that believes in him receives eternal life and is saved from death, unto life eternal. Jesus broke down the sins separation barrier with his sacrifice on the cross, once for all sins. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit," 1 Peter 3:18 Believe in him and you shall receive life.
The message of the bible is clear, that God was in Christ Jesus, reconciling the world to himself, not counting any mans' sins against any person today. Does that mean that everyone is saved? No way! Salvation is eternal life. Most people want to get their sins forgiven by something they say or do, or feel sorry for, or some form of works mentality, or doing some form of penance, or using a single verse of scripture, taken out of context, (see understanding 1 John 1:9) as a sort of Christian bar of soap to make themselves righteous before God. But it is only by faith in the finished work of Jesus that a person can come to salvation and eternal life. Not everyone by faith receives forgiveness in Jesus's life; not everyone receives eternal life. In fact, refusing to listen to the Holy Spirit of God their entire lives, and not receiving Jesus by faith alone is the only sin not forgiven. All other sins, every sin, of all of mankind is forgiven by God. 1 John 2: 2
John the Baptist said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Jesus said before his death on the cross that took away all sins, "And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Mathew 12: 31-32
Jesus has committed the message of reconciliation to me. I am Christ's ambassador, as though God were making his appeal through me. I implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we, you, me, and everyone that believes might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Be thankful to God that he has broken down the sin barrier for you. He tore in two, the curtain of separation from the top, down to the bottom that separated us from himself. Praise Jesus and his name for ever and ever!
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