Many Christians struggle with condemnation. We desire change. We want to break bad habits and develop godly character but our attempts often end in frustration. We have incredible encounters with God that change us for a short time, but back we go to the same behaviour. We desire to walk in another direction, to repent, but we keep on repeating the same sinful patterns over and over again. This booklet provides a way out by reminding us that the real [...] Read more »
You’ve Been Forgiven – Day 27
Truth: Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-33 (New Living Translation) Thought: There are many who, after being forgiven by God and after seeking the forgiveness of those they have offended, find it extremely difficult to live in the freedom that forgiveness brings. Sometimes they don’t feel they were worthy to [...] Read more »
Asking for Forgiveness – Day 26
Truth: …leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Matthew 5:24 (New Living Translation) Thought: We are fallen people living in a fallen world. That’s not an excuse. We need to become more and more and more like Jesus. But there may be times when we have sinned against someone else and we need to make it right. The rabbis taught that the sin against someone [...] Read more »
Forgive and Forget? – Day 25
Truth: I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a [...] Read more »
Forgiveness Confusion – Day 24
Truth: Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV) Thought: Too many followers of Christ are confused about forgiveness. They live out of lies they hold to as truth. We’ll be looking at some of those lies today. We don’t forgive because we believe the violator needs to pay. We feel the one who did us wrong needs to understand what we were put through. [...] Read more »
God Has Forgiven Me – Day 23
Truth: If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in [...] Read more »
Understanding Confession and Repentance
We need to confess our sins to God. That is, we need to agree with Him that it was sin. It wasn’t a “mistake” or “stupidity” or “oops” or…it was sin. It separated us from Him and alienated us from others. It’s not in our nature to sin any longer. We are no longer under the control of sin. We also need to confess to each other. There is healing in confession. We are told to Confess your sins to [...] Read more »
The Process of Restoring Trust
When a follower of Christ has sinned, and has repented of that sin, trust still needs to be restored. This is how the process of restoring trust begins: Allow them to feel godly sorrow. Ask questions like, “Who has been affected by your sin?” Help them see the broader picture. Lead them through to solutions with questions like “What are you going to do to make it right with those who are affected by your sin?” “How are you going [...] Read more »
How Do We Honor When There Has Been Sin?
You’re a leader. You may be a pastor, mentor or parent, but you’re in a position of authority. Someone you’re responsible for has sinned and they come expecting the condemnation they are under to be compounded because they’ve confessed a hidden sin and know the myth of grace many in the church hold to.(The “myth of grace” is its for me and not you.) But Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: A bruised reed he will not break, and a [...] Read more »
Do I only need to forgive myself if I have taken advantage of others?
I so enjoy the question I get by email, in comments and in the Forum. Here’s one from a comment I needed more space to continue. Question: Do you agree that I only need to forgive myself if I have taken advantage of others? Answer: Peter, I think that’s a start, but in most cases we have to go further. Jesus told us: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or [...] Read more »