Forgiveness - 20 January

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1 Cor 15:1-8 (ESV)

What are the main points of the Gospel, according to Paul? Which vers(es) give you those points? I plan to memorize those verses so I am more fully equipped to share the Gospel!

How does the Gospel relate to forgiving others? And are we to forgive ourselves? The Gospel doesn’t talk about self-forgiveness! If we worry about forgiving ourselves, we’re actually saying that God’s grace isn’t enough!

We need to turn our sins over to the Creator, and we need to forgive others. Period. God will take care of the rest! But how do I get God to do that for me?

Agree with God that I’ve sinned. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

Take responsibility for my sins. Tell God I am willing to make restitution and reconcile. 

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Matt 5:23-24 (ESV)

Thank God for Jesus’ blood, which cleanses me from my sin. Accept His forgiveness.

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:19-21 (ESV)

Believe God! I am no longer condemned.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (ESV)

Thank God for His gifts – including the Holy Spirit – and tell Him that I want to walk with the Spirit and turn away from my sins (turning away is genuine repentance).

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  Gal 5:16-26 (ESV)

I want to be more Christlike. I want to have the fruit of the spirit – not the works of the flesh. The more Spirit I have, the easier it will be to forgive!

Happy weekend! See you Monday.