COMPLETELY FORGIVEN

Day 29 – Who He Says I Am Series

“I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.” (NLT)

– 1 John 2:12

In Christ –

YOU ARE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN

“Mama, Can you believe she is in her 40’s?” These were the words that came out of my daughter, Madilyn’s, mouth when she and I were watching a live dance performance. My daughter knew the age of this dancer, because she had previously met the performers at a rehearsal. And as she suspected, I couldn’t believe this dancer was in her 40’s. She looked like she was in her 20’s. Every muscle in her body was perfectly sculpted. In my daughter’s words – she was “jacked.” This amazement sparked and continued conversation for us. Madi was saying that this woman must work out all the time. She even wondered if she had time for important things like family and relationships. I speculated that if she did this as a job, either dancing professionally or was a personal trainer or something similar, she could still look like that and maintain the other things in life that are important. Obviously, we were both thinking that if you have a family and a full time job, in order to look like that, you must spend every bit of your free time working out, which clearly neither of us are willing to make that kind of a sacrifice. My daughter then said the words, “I want to look jacked like that but not have to work for it.” I started laughing and said, “Of course you do! That’s what we all want.” And the truth is we all do want that. We all want something for nothing and it has been proven to all of us that in this world, things just don’t work like that. In this world you have to work for what you want. You have to earn it. You have to “do” to get. But there is a world that doesn’t work like that. The spiritual world. The supernatural world. In the spiritual world you don’t have to “do” to get. In the spiritual world, Jesus did so that you can receive. This is so counter culture to anything natural that we know and understand. That is because it is “super”natural. It’s beyond the limits or order of this world. In Jesus, you don’t have to earn forgiveness. In fact, you can’t. So you might as well give up before you even try. Try as you might, but you will never meet the requirements. The requirement is perfection and the fact that you have already messed up means that you are forever disqualified. Even if you were perfect from this point forward (which is impossible) you are still guilty of sin because of your past. That sounds like bad news, but here’s where the Good News comes in. The Good News is Jesus. Jesus paid for every one of your sins on the cross. Past, present and future, they are paid for in full. The only scars in heaven are on the hands of Jesus as the receipt for your forgiveness that was paid in full. You will forever be trapped in a cycle of shame and pride if you buy into the lie that you are earning your forgiveness and approval with God. Believe me, I know. I was trapped in this cycle for most of my christian life and it’s exactly where the enemy wants you to be. When I messed up, I would be overcome with shame and guilt, but then I would do good things, and I would puff up and be so proud. Either way, who is receiving the focus? Me, myself, and I. Don’t get caught up in narcissistic christianity which is spread from many pulpits in America. Keep the focus on Jesus and His love. Not on yourself and what you do or don’t do. Jesus made the way for you. He earned it and you receive it. It’s a free gift. You actually do get something for nothing. It might not be sculpted muscles, but it’s the most important thing of all – complete forgiveness from Jesus. God has chosen to cast your sin as far as the East is from the West and remember it no more. (Psalm 103:12) In Christ, because of His blood, you are completely forgiven. Now and forever. That is Good News. Thank You Jesus.

COMPLETELY FORGIVEN – is your Identity! 

Daily Reminder

You don’t have to work to be Completely Forgiven, you already are Completely Forgiven because Christ gave you a new identity. His identity. This is who you are because of who He is, not who you have to try to become.

– Religion tells us what to do to become, which equals self reliance – the focus is on self.

– The truth of the Gospel tells us who we are because of who Jesus is and what He did – the focus is on Jesus.

Good News  – Our Father in heaven is pleased with you because of what Jesus did – it all hinges on Him not us.

We are in union with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). When our Daddy in heaven looks at you, He sees Jesus, and He is nothing but pleased. (Matthew 3:17)

Rest in Him today

Forgiving Father,

Thank You for Your forgiveness toward me. Remind me today that the forgiveness I have received from You didn’t come with an expiration date. You didn’t forgive me for my yesterdays, but left the verdict out for my today or tomorrows. Because of Christ, You have forgiven me completely. I stand in awe! Thank You Jesus!