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Jesus - Your Freedom and Forgiver

Release or Regret

My earliest recollection of growing up in a military family had to do with “assuming responsibility for your actions.” If you were wrong, you admitted it and worked to make it right. Following rules came pretty naturally, and hard work was expected. The most amazing part of it all was at the same time, both my parents were loving, just, and a great source of encouragement. Still, I grew up believing if I just followed the rules, admitted the errors and tried harder, life would be good. Enter sin.

Paul writes in Acts 13:38, “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”  Wait a minute... “through Jesus.”  This contrasted every thing it seemed I was taught.  I thought I could handle my sin problem, like going to the gym. If only I could jump on some “spiritual fitness” program, admit my errors and work harder to get spiritually fit... 

Sadly, the harder I tried, and the more self-imposed rules I applied, the results were always the same – failure. How many times did I have to climb the hill of regret before I realized I could not create my own spiritual conditioning? This lesson must have also been hard for Paul’s listeners when he told them this was “a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”  

The choice was mine: release or regret. I discovered relief when I chose to believe that Jesus did the work in dying for the forgiveness of my sins. That’s when I stepped off the spiritual treadmill and chose instead to walk by faith. I finally found freedom.

Reflection:

Read Acts 13:26-39 

Why does this passage seem too good to be true?