Completely Forgiven

A woman, who had been bitten by a rabid dog, was told she was going to die from rabies.

The doctor told her to put her final affairs in order.

So the woman took pen and paper, and began writing furiously. In fact, she wrote and wrote and wrote.

Finally the doctor said, “That sure is a long Will you’re making.” She snorted, “Will”, nothing! I’m making a list of all the people I’m going to bite!”

Obviously this woman had an issue with forgiveness!

Aren’t you glad Christ does not have an issue with forgiveness!

In Colossians 2:13, we read:

“having forgiven us all our transgressions.”

We see from this verse that we are completely forgiven.

Notice that this phrase is in the past tense, so our forgiveness has already been accomplished.

What does it mean to be forgiven?

We can define forgiveness this way:

“God’s unconditional granting of His grace in the pardoning all our sins or canceling our debt of sin.”

It is done for us apart from any personal merit on our part, because we could never ever earn it.

We see the magnitude of our forgiveness in the phrase “all our transgressions.”

God, once for all, forgave all our sins, past, present, and future.

We have God’s forgiveness and we always will have forgiveness.  It is total, complete and forever.

Notice the change in pronoun from “you” to “us.”

Paul was so deeply moved, having experienced the forgiveness of God and seeing the magnitude of God’s forgiveness that he could not help but include himself.

Can we, like Paul, rejoice in our total, complete and forever forgiveness by God or do we doubt His forgiveness?

George Woodall had the joy of leading a patient in London’s Mildmay Hospital to Christ.

Afterwards she told him, “I get worried. Has God really forgiven my past?”

Woodall replied, “If this keeps worrying you, I am sure I know what the Lord would say to you: ‘Why don’t you mind your own business? I have made your sins My business. I died for your sins on the cross!’” My friend, God has put your sins behind His back. He has dropped them in the depth of the sea and put up the notice: No Fishing Allowed!” The patient’s doubts vanished. Rejoicing, she said, “I see it now! How wonderful God’s forgiveness is!”

God’s promises are absolutely certain!

Listen to these:

“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” (Is. 44:22)

“Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!” (Micah 7:19)

“For I will be merciful and gracious toward their iniquities and I will never again remember their sins.” (Heb. 8:12).

May we never doubt again that we are completely, totally, and eternally forgiven of all our sins through Christ!

Our complete forgiveness is real!

Blessings!

Pastor Ken Keeler, Director of Church Ministries