Have you every experienced the Lord’s forgiveness? I recently asked one of the young men on the basketball team this exact question.
He answered perplexed, “That’s a really hard question to answer. I’d have to say yes, in my mind, but harder to say, yes, in my heart. Well, I know that ultimately, I have been forgiven due to Jesus’ death on the cross. I have put my faith in Jesus and realize that He has forgiven my sins. The reality in my life is that every time I mess up and commit a sin, I feel like I need to go out and now re-prove myself to the Lord … that is, that I’m worthy of His forgiveness.”
“Sounds exhausting to me,” I responded.
“Yeah, I know.” He continued and asked, “What does the Bible say about these thoughts?”
I told him, “Galatians talks a lot about walking in the flesh by trying to obey the Law and how that contrasts to walking by faith in what He has already done for us on the cross.”
“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
I continued, “It’s not about what we ‘do’ in trying to keep the Law, but rather in what Jesus has ‘done’ through His death, burial and resurrection. All we need to do is have faith in Jesus and realize it is never about us being ‘good enough’, but about us being forgiven and that only happens though Jesus. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah it does,” he said, visibly relieved.
I wish you could have been there with me for this recent conversation with one of the basketball guys. The Lord is changing this student’s life as God’s Spirit opens up his eyes to the Word of God and your prayers are helping to make that a reality.
