Your True ReflectionShembull

You Are Forgiven:
The Greek noun for “forgiven” is ἄφεσις (aphesis) and indicates dismissal, release, remission, or pardon. It is used to release someone from obligation or debt.

Christ sought to “give His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77, NASB) and reminds us that “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered” (Romans 4:7, NASB). This one is about as big as a blessing gets; it is the core of our faith—forgiveness of our trespasses and sin!

Forgiveness is the most powerful thing we acquire in our lives because it means our debt is erased and forgotten about. This is hard to grasp, but it is undeniably true.

The apostle Paul was a murderer; he was part of condoning the stoning of Stephen when he was martyred. If God can forgive Paul, he can surely forgive you. We don’t like some people to be forgiven—they deserve the punishment—but God’s love sees through the whole story of their lives and stands ready to forgive anyone for anything.

Barabbas was a murderer but was set free by the people’s vote at Jesus’s trial. Jesus’s innocence was traded for another man’s guilt. He walked away a free man as Jesus was crucified, even though he did not deserve it. The truth is that we are all Barabbas! We have no ground to stand on that makes us right before a holy God, but because of the shedding of Jesus’s blood, we are FORGIVEN! We will not be held accountable for our crimes. Our records have been expunged and removed from God’s record. His forgiveness opens up doors we could never open on our own. We have peace, hope, eternal life, and purpose! We can walk about among the living and have nothing but an abundant life for all eternity, all because God has decided to forgive us. How life-giving is that?!