Forgive Our Sins

By Benjamin H. Liles

          What I'm sharing with you tonight is something so very extraordinary. It's liberating, thought-provoking and so very out there you may end up scratching your head. I'm sharing a video a guy made out of Windsor, Colorado.

          This guy is a pastor and a teacher. He has spoken out against sin far more than I have. I may have written over four hundred posts over the past couple of years, but this guy, he can give a sermon, a teaching on Jesus Christ that is more profound than I ever could.

         
          Eric Ludy is an author, a speaker, and president of Ellerslie Mission Society. He is also the senior pastor at the Church at Ellerslie. Now, personally, I don;t know him at all. But I agree with him that as a follower of Christ I feel inadequate and without God's power and Spirit on this issue. So I ask that you watch that video I am sharing with you.

          But I am asking that you also look at this portion of scripture as well, which reads, "And forgive us our debts (our sins), as we forgive our debtors (whose who sinned against us)" (Matthew 6:12, New King James). It is because of our sins we have been thrown in prison for our crimes against God the Father. They separate us from Him and His grace, His love, and His mercy.

          Hell is a real place. It's where those who have sinned against God, having refused to bow their knee to Him, and asking Him for forgiveness, that they are so far away and separated from Him. Jesus said this to a man who followed the Law of Moses: "Simon, I have something to say to you. A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. Since [neither] could pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love [the creditor] more?" (Luke 7:40-41, Holman Christian Standard).

          The woman who was there, sobbing at the feet of Jesus, anointing His feet, and wiping his feet with her hair gave Jesus more kindness, more love than Simon did, who had asked Jesus to come into his home for supper. Guess which of these two thought more highly of Jesus? The woman who was anointing His feet? Or Simon who gifted Jesus with absolutely nothing?

          Jesus said this to Simon even though he turned to the woman: "Do you see [her]? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing My feet since I came in. You didn't anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little." And then He tells this woman, "Your sins are forgiven" (Luke 7:44-48, Holman Christian Standard).

          We have the forgiveness of Jesus Christ upon our lives as we see the huge need we have before Him. If I had to turn this illustration around to modern times and point it at myself, I could say I owed Jesus Christ more than my very life. Ever since the night before my gall bladder surgery I saw where I was about to go. I wasn't about to meet Him in Heaven either. I cried out to Him, both in pain and anger. I was frustrated. I was wondering, out loud, basically, "Why me? Why now?" And yet, even in that confession I offered up, which was simply this, "You are Lord, do as You will. I am Yours, and I want You as my Lord and Savior," I felt His amazing love, His arms around me.

          This coming Tuesday marks almost one month in which I gave my heart and my life to Him. My act of surrender to Him has allowed me to walk in a victory I have never known before in my life! All that head knowledge I had is still very much there, but it's being turned into personal, very real Christ-like living. For the first time in my life I see and get that being a follower of Christ, being His disciple means you're not defeated. No!

          When we ask Him to, "Forgive us our sins, so that those who sinned against us can be forgiven," means He can do some amazing work in their lives. They are off the hook with us. He can start doing something great and grand in the other person's life since you said to Him, "Forgive them, as You forgiven me." It is a display and testimony to Him that you want Him and His power made manifest in and through your life. So, I ask of you to watch that video of Eric explaining the gospel of Jesus Christ. May it bless and encourage you as it has me.

          Father, You are so perfect and holy that I'm unsure I can ask you to do this for me. I realize I am imperfect. And yet You told Paul, "My strength is made perfect in your weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). But I ask that You show Yourself mightily to those who are in need of Your strength. Be their portion, be their fortress and shield. Protect them from the slings and arrows of the enemy. Help them to stand strong in You, and in Your mighty name. I ask that You be a cloud by day for them (their Guide), and a pillar of fire by night (their Protector). Help them to see You, to see their need, and their rescue in You. For You are All in All. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

#lifeintheshedbloodofchristjesus, #jesuschristisforreal, #nolongerslavestosin