Often, when trying to overcome our past, we have a difficult time believing that we are really forgiven. While we sing songs about it, we talk about it, we even thank God for it, forgiveness is something our heart has a difficult time accepting. Perhaps it is because we have a difficult time forgiving others, and we believe God has the same difficulties we do. Perhaps it is because we believe we don't deserve forgiveness (none of us do). Or perhaps, we are experiencing the results of poor decisions and we figure our difficulties must mean that God hasn't forgiven us.
Whatever the reason, there are a couple of things we need to remember when our hearts won't allow us to "feel" forgiven. First of all, “The human heart is most deceitful and terribly wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Our feelings don't always tell the truth. We should never try to build the foundation of our lives on something as uncontrollable as our emotions. Emotions come and go, shift and fluctuate. But truth is always truth. Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a reality. Whether we feel forgiven or not, when we have come to Jesus and repented of our past...we are forgiven!
Listen to what John told us in 1 John 3:20: “Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” The Scriptures are clear that our lives are identified not by our failures but rather by the death Christ died on the cross.
Forgiveness is not achieved, it is received. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:7: “He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.” Don't miss it. HE purchased OUR freedom, OUR sins are FORGIVEN. There is nothing we can do to achieve this forgiveness, we just receive what He has already purchase. You are forgiven!
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