Adam and Eve knew they were guilty. They tried to hide from God.
The woman taken in adultery knew she was guilty. She lay powerless at the feet of Jesus, Who she knew would find her guilty as charged.
Peter knew he was guilty. He didn’t need a crowing rooster to tell him. He felt it in the pit of his stomach the first time he denied Jesus. If Jesus spoke as Peter did, He would have said, “I don’t know him.”
Judas knew he was guilty. He tried to atone for his sins by trying to reverse what he had put into play. He did not ask for Jesus’ Forgiveness and he could not forgive himself.
The thief on the cross next to Jesus knew he was guilty. Those who had called for his crucifixion knew it too. But in a moment, he knew he was not on just a cross. He was at The Throne of Grace. He asked for Jesus’ Mercy.
Do you feel the weight of guilt for things you have done in your life? You know you are guilty.
Sometimes you feel guilty because no one knows and you have managed to go on and have a good life. No one accuses you but yourself. You know.
There may be others who accused you. Their words from the past still sting. The words of today only add to the charge, “ You are guilty!”
But who is it really who accuses you and condemns you? Who tempts you to run from God instead of running to God to ask forgiveness for your mistakes? Satan.
When you fall, he rises and tries to keep you down by condemning you with shame and fear of punishment.
His primary mission is to keep you from surrendering to God and get you to surrender to him.
Jesus was sent into the world with a Mission. His Mission was the opposite of satan’s.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
John 3:17
Jesus had All Power and Authority to judge.
“All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.’”
Matthew 28:18
But He chose to use that Power and Authority to forgive, not to condemn.
“I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 12:47
“I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Mark 2:10
Jesus can forgive any and all sins by The Power of His Grace and Mercy. But we must be willing to come close and experience His Love and Mercy up close and personal.
And we must fulfill one other condition. We must forgive. Often the first one we need to forgive is ourselves.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:14-15
When we forgive and receive forgiveness, the curse of condemnation, shame and fear is removed. We can hear The Words we have longed to hear.
“Your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7:48
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
“For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is The Gift of God!”
Ephesians 2:8-9
