UI – Part 188 – Forgiveness

If you were completely forgiven of all your sins and knew that when you die God would welcome you, how would you feel?  Would you live a life for today, or would you live a life forever?

Understand Forgiveness

Jew and Muslim rely upon God to make a decision when they die.  Same in life – for each transgression there is a process – recognize sin, repent, sacrifice, atone, ask for forgiveness – God/Allah then decides.  You never really know if you are forgiven.

Individually you may or may not forgive one who has wronged you.  As in the image of God you can choose whether to forgive or not.  The Quran makes clear the heart for Allah must be perfect (which is impossible) in Sura 9:80 – “Allah will not forgive them…because they disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger. And Allah guides not the transgressing people.”  All Muslims transgress.  Sura 19:72. “And We shall deliver those who guard against evil, and leave the wrongdoers therein on their knees.”  Does that sound like forgiveness?

Christians are forgiven.  God forgives believers in Jesus Christ their sins, past, present and future, every one of them, once they believe in the ultimate saving sacrifice and Grace of the Risen Lord.  Jesus came to fulfill the Laws.  Who are the Laws designed for anyway. Laws are written for those who disobey.  If you are obedient, mindful of right and wrong and live to do what is right in God’s eyes, Laws are not necessary.  But as we all sin, even the slightest sin, a lie, is a crime against God.  But with Christ’s death on the Cross, his Resurrection, he overcame sin and death, forgiving the sins of mankind and returning to his spiritual state. 

In the temporal world God was made known thru Christ and thru the Word of God – the Bible.  God responded to the desire of all humans, ‘Forgive Me’.  If you sin, repent, atone for your sin, you believe in Christ, you are forgiven.  No questions asked.  Your heart for God is filled with love and obedience, and His Spirit has descended upon you as your reminder, and his assurance of His forgiveness.  Go then and lead your life for God. Commit your life to him who has forgiven and saved you. The Holy Spirit will guide you.

Acts 10:42-43 “…And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one (Jesus) appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Ephesians 1:7-10 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

God does not leave forgiveness to man, except one to another.  God wants man to forgive his neighbor, those who have wronged them. It is God’s image in humans on display.  It is an act of Grace, an example of the Grace of God for all who believe in the suffering servant and his saving sacrifice.

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you

Forgive because you love the Lord

Islamic Laws

Why are there so many Laws in Islam.  From the Old Testament Islam adopts many Laws, to include much of the Ten Commandments.  But they remain, in some cases, mired in antiquity, as well as culturally captive to the dictates of authority, the Prophet and the scholars of Islam. The Laws of Islam evolved too, from the time of Muhammad to that of the Caliphs and scholars who interpreted, added and adopted laws for their purposes, not necessarily Allah’s.   So many Laws for so many people, all, I guess, because of an inherent disobedient nature towards Allah, the Prophet and the Quran.  As I noted prior, Laws are made for the disobedient.

Be Forgiven

Open your heart.  Open your mind.  Bare your soul.  Accept Christ.   Study the Word of God.  Each sentence, each paragraph, each parable, each statement made by the prophets, each statement made by Christ, the miracles, the lives of the Apostles, and the letters of the Apostle Paul will bridge the gap between your truth and God’s truth, availing you to knowledge and wisdom of a life beyond that which on earth alone can be so short.  You will extend your life to the forever zone, the eternal community which God has prepared for you.  You will live your life differently.  Others will see you in a different light.

The Bible is the History of God’s presence in this world and your world.  It is your invitation to know God and come along with Him thru obedience and Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, the last sacrifice needed, to be Forgiven and to follow that which is True.  Avoid the many deceivers that remain on earth, some of whom even aver they are the ‘Best of Deceivers.’  That is their only truth as all else is an attempt to take you off the trail that will cover the ground necessary to reach the Gates of Heaven.  It is not an easy path to follow. There will be suffering.  You will be persecuted.  Obstacles will be placed in your way.  Satan does not want you to achieve the goal God has established.  But persevere, through prayer and confidence in His Grace you will find the armor of God protecting you.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Know you can be forgiven too.  Seek the light God has given the world through his sacrificial child of the virgin Mary, born without sin to be the example of God to everyone.

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”  ~ Alexander Pope

Grace and Peace.