Posted on Mon, Mar 30, 2009
“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.”Psalms 32:1-2
My dear friend:
I like to share a short story with you. It is very interesting. It is about the telephone call I received today after our Sunday worship service.
After the service, I was so elated with the music we had played to close the service. I decided to play the music again while my wife was preparing our dinner. Here is the link to the music: “REDEEMED, HOW I LOVE TO PROCLAIM IT!” http://nethymnal.org/htm/r/e/redeemed.htm.
We continued with singing and dancing. It was a very joyous moment. Then, the telephone rang. The music was still playing in the background and the young lady who had called sensed that we were very happy and asked what song I was playing. I invited her to sing along with me and was high-spirited. Suddenly, she stopped and told me she was very confused about the theme of the song. She said: “I doubt that I am redeemed.” She concluded that she was unsure if she would make it to heaven and was really sad. I know that she goes to church regularly, holds a position there and even sings in the choir. To accomplish "so much" as a "Christian" and not to be sure of heaven is, certainly, disheartening. She is not alone in her feeling.
The following is the excerpt of my discussion with her: Everyone needs to be sure that he is redeemed. We are in a world laden with sins in ever-increasing magnitude. Redemption from sin is our only guarantee of heaven. But, we will not go to heaven for what we have done in our righteousness. No level of our righteous acts is enough to usher us into God’s holy heaven. The sins of those who are sure of heaven are covered with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ can save.
As sinners, we are doomed for eternal destruction. We are separated from a holy God and will remain so forever. Naturally, people want to keep what they enjoy. Our bodies love to sin and we enjoy sinning. Jesus Christ alone, who knew no sin, and hates sins, can free us from the chain of sins.
Though he is God, he lived among us as a man. He came into this world to take away our sins. He lived above sin and subdued sin in all its power and viciousness. At his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ triumphed over sin of all types; that was for us. He received the appropriated punishment for our sins past, present and future.
Therefore, in Jesus Christ, God paid the ultimate sacrifice and punishment for Adam and Eve’s sin, and all our sins. AGAIN, at the cross, Jesus Christ shed his holy blood to redeem us from the curse of God and bore on himself the punishment for all our sins. He satisfied, forever, the law’s demands for sinning. He died for us, and redeemed us, freely, from the wrath of God.
We are required only to simply and child-likely say: “Lord, I acknowledge my sins to you. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me, and you had raised him from the dead for my justification”. Then, ask God to forgive you in the name of Jesus Christ. With this simple confession, accept your forgiveness and thank God for your new life.
When you faithfully do this simple act, God imputes you with his righteousness and covers you with the blood of his holy son, which he shed at the cross for you. When you know that you are so freely redeemed, why won’t you be happy? Indeed, such redeeming love, so amazing and divine, “demands my soul, my life and my all.”
My friend, you do not have to feel forgiven; only believe God’s word that you are redeemed. God’s restored paradise is your home forever. This is the reason the bible says that God is the author and the finisher of your faith. It is written that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever (your name) believed in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Bible References: Romans 3:23; Genesis 1:31; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 5:6-7; Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 8:1; Romans 10:9-10; Hebrews 12:2 ; John 3:16
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