Instant Forgiveness

Posted by jerrywhite on Jan 26, 2012

God requires no waiting period after sinful failure until you feel worthy of His forgiveness. His forgiveness rests alone upon the finished work of His Son. Christ’s perfect life and shameful death satisfied the Law’s just demands in our behalf. Never does anything in us merit God’s forgiveness. Never does our merciful and gracious Father forgive us because He sees how sorry we are or how deeply repentant we are. The Father never loses sight of what His Son did for us. The brilliance of Christ’s sacrifice overrules the shadows of our sinful stumbling. His Son’s sacrifice is what absorbs the Father’s attention. He sees the full redemption price paid for all our sins—past, present and future. He has removed even those too deep for our level of spiritual maturity to comprehend. Unnecessarily some sincere believers sink into the quagmire of self-condemnation. Must any child of His suffer guilt and shame long enough until their regret, sorrow and sincerity of repentance is proven? Never!

It is sorely true that with our sinful thoughts, words and deeds comes shame, regret and sorrow. It should! Sometimes there comes rebuke and chastening from the Father, but it is never accompanied by an unwillingness to forgive or requires a waiting period before He extends it. All the forgiveness you need is available to you every moment—instantly.

True repentance comes from sorrow towards God (2 Cor. 7:10). Because sin grieves His Spirit a quickened soul that loves the Lord Jesus becomes grieved (Eph. 4:30). Sins happen when sinful flesh expresses its wicked ugliness (Romans 7:19-20). Because you are in a relationship with Christ with a longing to please Him, sin makes you ashamed before Him with regret and sorrow. This is a good thing because He uses it to train you as His child to grow in holiness.

Sin’s stain should be removed quickly from your conscience. The way is plain and simple. When the Spirit convicts you, immediately speak to the Lord whom you love and who loves you with all that He is.

Be honest with your Heavenly Father about your sin and confess it to Him by name.

Express your sorrow to Him that you grieved Him.

Thank Him for His unchanging love and readiness to forgive you.

Thank Him that all your sins were fully punished in His Son on the cross.

Choose to believe that He fully forgives and cleanses you this moment from your sin.

Rejoice that you are freely forgiven and thoroughly cleansed from all unrighteousness.

Call upon Him to enable you to walk in purity and righteousness as you go forward.

JRW