Finding ForgivenessCampione

DAY FIFTEEN - FREEDOM IN FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

During an Open Doors “Standing Strong Through the Storm” seminar in Central Asia, we listened to testimonies of the participants who were mostly from Muslim background. We asked how long they had been followers of Jesus. The majority answered, “Nine years.”

When we asked how they had become believers, they shared that there was a vicious religious civil war in their country nine years earlier. It had shown them the true colors of Islam and they turned to follow Jesus for the reasons listed below:

1. LOVE
Jesus of the Bible teaches and exemplifies love and compassion.

2. WORSHIP
They were attracted to the Christian love of singing and worshipping God with praise and joy!

3. FORGIVENESS
Jesus shows how to forgive our enemies – feed them and give them water to drink.

4. JESUS’ LIFE
Jesus’ teachings and His example are very attractive.

5. WOMEN
Jesus holds women in high esteem.

6. FAITH
Jesus claims to be the way, truth and life. Salvation in Christ is by faith alone. No works or rituals or rules can save us.

7. TRUTH
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is “Good News” because He is the Truth. The Gospel is based on Truth.

8. LIBERTY

Christian expression is based on freedom and liberty in Christ. The Bible teaches the basis for such liberty.

These eight positive principles are a powerful affirmation of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. The founder of Open Doors International, Brother Andrew, says, “Forgiveness is the very core of the gospel message. I am a Christian only because God forgave me everything. There is no other ground on which to stand…not my repentance, not my praying the sinner’s prayer. Nothing made me a child of God except God forgave. And He did it two thousand years ago through Jesus on the cross. Jesus took all that sin and nailed it to the cross and He says, ‘Now, go, and put it into practice.’”

Today I will appreciate the uniqueness of the gospel and Jesus my Savior.