Forgiven 

   “However if the wicked renounce all of the sins they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is right and just, they shall surely live; they shall not die.  None of the crimes that they have committed shall be remembered against them; they shall live because of the righteous deeds they have done.”  (Ex 18: 21 – 22) 

   Why is it that we have such a difficult time forgiving ourselves of our sins when God has forgiven them?  Do we somehow think we know better that God; that His forgiveness is not enough?  If so, we need to rethink our relationship with the Lord.

   Jesus did not come to pay the price for our sins and redeem us only to have us question whether His sacrifice for us was enough.  Without a word of protest, He took all of the sins of the world upon Himself and gave His life so that we might have the forgiveness needed to become God’s children.  How dare we imply that His sacrifice was not enough!?

   It is Satan who puts those questions in our mind.  It is the evil one who would convince us that our sins are so heinous that even God cannot or will not forgive.  If He is successful we are, in my opinion, guilty of blasphemy.  We are denying the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

   When past sins arise to plague us there are two things we must do.  First we must reject Satan and his evil thoughts.  Second, we must thank God for His forgiveness of our sins, for as scripture tells us, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103: 12).