I know some people who spend much of their lives condemning themselves for sins that our Lord forgave. Believing in Jesus for salvation and rejecting His sacrifice for our sins is harmful to; 1. Our relationship with our Father. 2. A complete waste of our lives as to doing good. 3. Can cause a destruction of our ability to forgive others. 4. Definitely leads to poor physical health due to living under a "cloud" of guilt.
Think of St. Paul who was guilty of murdering many Christians. Suppose he failed to accept God's forgiveness! Take the time to read the following scripture. You are probably familiar with it, but it never hurts to re-read the word because it continues to reveal truths that we may have missed in the past.
April 21, 2012 - New International Version
Acts 9:1-25
Saul's Conversion
9:1-19pp -- Ac 22:3-16; 26:9-18
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
2 comments:
Thank you for posting this. i was just having a conversation with a friend about this. It is such a huge subject that too many churches don't focus on much. So thank you.
*Jessica
I have read a number of your posts Mr. Silanskas and as I was getting ready to close up the computer for the evening, I decided to see if you had posted on my birthday (April 21st) which you did, so I read this one as well. I just want to say I thank God for His continual removal of the scales that were on my eyes! Thanks so much for all of your posts!
100,000 Blessings to you and your sweet family!
Carol Salisbury-Walker : )
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