Forgiven

It’s 2012. I’m in Cambodia. It’s lunch break. I’m lying on the bed in my room listening to Christian music to relax and meditate on my relationship with the Lord. While listening to the song Forgiven by Sanctus Real I contemplate what an honor it is from God to help these precious people know Jesus through His word. There are about 35 students in the seminar. All of them are former Buddhists or Muslims. I am trying to help these newer Christians understand the love and grace of God that manifests itself in forgiveness of their sins in Christ. It is difficult because their religious backgrounds are based on earning salvation thru their good works.

But while I am teaching them, God’s word is teaching me, because the truth is we all struggle at times when we contemplate our own forgiveness. Sometimes we need to repent, but many times we beat ourselves up unnecessarily. That song on forgiveness hit me in the heart. I thought of Romans 5:1-11; 6:23; 8:1,9-17. I listened to it over and over.

Maybe you need to be forgiven. Maybe you want to talk to a guy who’s been way out there and loves helping people come to know Jesus better. Please contact me if I can ever help. It’s what I live for. In the meantime, read Romans 5:1-11 and listen to the encouraging song simply entitled: Forgiven by Sanctus Real.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.