John 3
Matthew 6:14-15 – For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Unless you have forgiven others for the sins they commit against you, you will not be forgiven for the sins you committed.
1. Sadly, many Christans refuse to forgive. We store unforgiveness in our hearts, tormenting ourselves (with bitterness, anger, and resentment). Many of us hold unto unforgiveness because (1) we want want revenge on those who wronged us; (2) we want to see them ‘pay’ for what they did to us; or (3) we wait for the person (or people) to take responsibility for their actions (via apology). Revenge, ‘payback,’ and waiting for apologies isn’t what God desires of us. God wants us to love others, show mercy to them, and forgive, just as He has done for you.
Impatient, lazy, foul-mouthed, angry, evil, lustful, dangerous, and spiteful people fill our homes, workplaces, and yes…churches. Through God’s infinite grace and mercy, you may have been among those delivered from the destructive traits and behaviors listed above. God has been so good to us, but often we fail to show that same goodness to others.
Jesus’ second commandment is for us to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:35-39). If we are not careful, we can find ourselves hating, gossiping, and harboring anger toward those we once resembled. We wanted mercy, we desired grace, we longed to be understood, we desired peace from our pain, and to be forgiven, but yet, we fail to do the same for others.
1. Superheroes have a hidden identity. As children, most of us watched superhero cartoons. We would witness people with superhuman strength and abilities entrusted to stop evil and create a safer environment for city. Many of the superheroes had a separate identity among the public. (I never understood why the animators would do this because it would be a lot easier to for the superhero to remain ‘super’ all day, but I guess superheroes have to make a living too.) They could easier conceal their identity and no one could figure out who they were.
As Christians, we should not live in this manner. Jesus is calling us to be a light in the world (Matthew 5:14-16). We must allow our light to shine so that others may see our good works and praise our Father in Heaven.
Unfortunately, many of us hide our identity as Children of the Most High. We hide behind other characteristics that conceal our true identity. We display characteristics of anger, malice, sexual sins, robbery, lying, etc. No one would ever believe you were a Christian – even if you told them!
When you ask most believers today about grace, they would refer to it as undeserving favor from God. One of the greatest elements of God’s grace is His undeserving favor toward mankind, and within the biblical text, there are other instances of grace as well.
1. Undeserving Favor. Though Adam sinned and brought death and sin into the generations of man, God loved us so much that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins (Romans 5:12-15; John 3:16). He did this so that the eternal separation that was made between God and man would be restored – for those that placed their belief in His Son.
Titus 3:4-7 – But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
What’s in the closet of your life? Does stealing, lying, adultery, ungodly imaginations, and other types of sin that lurk within the darkness of your life?
You may want to clean up your life, but the evil deeds you commit keep you in the shadows of darkness. You may not want to open the closet door because you feel ashamed that you could allow those things to stay within your life for so long. You may know that your deeds are evil and enjoy what you do in the dark (well, at least the flesh), but you must come to the realization that your deeds of darkness can keep you from the life Jesus died to give you.
You do not have to keep your sinful acts in the darkness. Allow the Blood of Jesus to cleanse you of your sins and live in the truth (John 3:19-21).
God wants your ‘house’ to be clean. He loves you so much that He gave His only Son so that you may receive the forgiveness of sins and have eternal life (John 3:16-17; Ephesians 5:1-5).
Ask God to cleanse you from top to bottom, inside and out. OPEN THE CLOSET DOOR!
Photo courtesy of Stock.XCHNG.com/_lisandra
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