Forgiveness?

WHAT ABOUT FORGIVENESS?

♥ One thing we all have in common is our need for forgiveness.
♥ All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory ~ Romans 3:23.
♥ We have all wronged another person, leaving us in need of forgiveness!
♥ There has been someone who has wronged us, leaving us in need to forgive!

“How can I forgive myself?” This is a common question asked by all of us. There seems there is no adequate answer. Why is that?

“It is neither biblical nor necessary to forgive yourself!” Scripture only deals with forgiveness in three ways:

1. You must be forgiven by God through His Son’s blood Matthew 26:28

2. You must forgive others to be forgiven by God Matthew 6:14-15

3. You must ask those who have anything against you to forgive you Matthew 25:23-24
Let’s look at being forgiven by God through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus.

♥“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26: 28

♥ ” But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him”. Romans 5: 8-9

Let’s look at forgiving others or not being forgiven by God ~

♥“For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them. Letting them go and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 AMP

This is one of the most awesome scriptures in the Bible ~ You and I cannot afford to not forgive!

Let’s look at our need to be reconciled through asking for forgiveness from others.

♥“So if when you are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has any [grievance] against you, Leave your gift and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 AMP

These are the three ways God deals with forgiveness in His Word. I believe that God’s Word does not tell us to forgive ourselves.

What then, are we to do with this shame, guilt, and for some, self-hatred felt over the tragic wrong choices we have made and the sin we have committed? Again, How can we forgive ourselves?

We cannot! That is why we needed a Savior to pay the price of shedding His holy blood, which satisfied God’s justice!

Jesus exchanged His righteousness for our unrighteousness.

♥For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
II Corinthians 5:21

♥Our righteousness is filthy ~ But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is like filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6

“What do we do with the self-condemnation?”

♥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 8:1

“Are you saying, I do not have to forgive myself at all?”

YES! Rather it is not what I say, but it is what God says. In fact Jesus said it from His Cross “IT IS FINISHED!” John 19:30

What are we to do say, “Well done Jesus, but You can come down from the Cross now, I must do more?”

God forbid that we would think such a thing!

There is nothing we can add to the Cross of Christ but accept the Grace of God accomplished by the finished work Jesus did there!!

We cannot shed holy blood and our righteousness is not worthy of redemption. Only God the Son could satisfy the holy justice of God the Father.

The good news is ~ It Is Amazing Grace!

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Note from Lana:

Yes, if Jesus Christ is your personal Savior, you are forgiven for every sin, including abortion. You cannot do anything to make God love you more or less than He loved you the day He died for you at Calvary.

Jesus is also our Healer and He is the Healer of the brokenhearted. There is often a path of emotional healing the forgiven child of God needs to walk with the Lord. He sent His Word to heal you and through His Word He will walk with you on this journey all the way to victory.

Beauty for Ashes Ministries is a healing Bible study and Retreat for the emotional pain of abortion and abuse, in a safe and confidential setting of unconditional love. Open your heart and allow God’s Word and uncon-ditional love to heal every broken place. Look for the registration link on this site and do not hesitate to come to the Jesus who loves you and came to give you abundant life.

The pain can stop!