FORGIVEN

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” Romans 4:7

I am glad that there is forgiveness with the Lord. I am a sinner in my own right. This is what I am. There is nothing I can do about it. Like David, I must in all truth say “Against Thee, and Thee only have I sinned and done this evil in Thy sight”. Not only have I sinned in the past, there is never a day that I am without it. Once we have sinned we cannot unsin. Often we judge ourselves and other believers by big sins and not so big sins. This in itself is nothing but self-righteousness. We sometimes think “I would never do that”. While we are thinking this we are raising our own banner above a brother. Our text tells us that all those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered are blessed of God. This pretty much puts all of the sheep in the same pasture. We are sinners whom God has forgiven and continually forgives for Christ’s sake. God’s attitude toward His children is love, acceptance, forgiveness and fellowship. Even though all my sin is against Him He is faithful and just to forgive me and the blood of Christ cleanses me from all sin. Does this wondrous truth give me a desire to sin that His forgiveness may abound? God forbid! Rather the opposite! Nevertheless, I do, and He does! We deserve nothing from God or man except contempt and rejection. But aren’t you happy that God looked beyond our sin and saw our need? FORGIVENESS! What would motivate God to forgive such a sinner as I? “For God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Eph 2:4-6. Love being His motive, it is the brethren’s motive as well. The brethren’s attitude toward each other is not one of anger and resentment but rather an attitude of love and forgiveness. What is our attitude toward each other?

Tommy