Forgiving & RebukingSample

It is life’s ultimate purpose to be conformed to our Lord’s image. The Bible says, “And we all…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another for this comes from the Lord...” (2 Corinthians 3:18). That’s why forgiveness must be both experienced and extended as we become more like Him. All Christian disciples are enabled to grow through the ongoing work of His Holy Spirit. Forgiveness, holiness, and love portray the very essence of who God is. That’s how we know what He wants all maturing Christians to become. God’s forgiveness and spiritual correction function in full agreement with His sinless purity and grace. This is what His Son openly modeled for us (see John 8:11). Pause to quietly think. As you seek to become like Him, who best understands your own personal strengths and weaknesses? Is He not the One who knows you best because He made you? How often do you find yourself approaching Him about the same weakness and re-occurring sin? Do you repeatedly find yourself jumping into the same “mud puddle” time after time? Does that not even happen after you have recently confessed and been cleansed? “Yes” – God hears our every confession, but confession in and of itself is not repentance! He knows all about our secret sins and addictions. The question is, are we content to continue living in spiritual mediocrity? This condition is precisely why God lovingly and patiently keeps offering to forgive, cleanse, and empower us. Genuine, honest repentance interweaves our confession with positive change. These spiritual realities produce the new direction which creates fulfilling usability in ministry! With God, no unconfessed sin will ever go unnoticed. Realizing this, we should wisely pray for conviction. However, on the cross, the Lord Jesus fully paid for every sin that has ever enslaved us! The Bible promises, “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ” (1 John 1:9)