Finally,I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them.I said to myself,"I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. -Psalm 32:5.
God's verdict
"On the whole I'm not worse than other people.I have never done anyone any harm,and God is kind-hearted.He will turn a blind eye to my slight faults and consider my sincere efforts to live uprightly."- So say or think many people.
We can even believe them when they say they are not worse than others.The question is: who are these others? Is a comparison with them a valid argument in God's sight? You see,one day we must all "give account" of ourselves before God (cf Romans 14:12).Then "others" will have no bearing to ourselves.In any case,it would be more advisable to trust our own assessment less and listen to God's verdict,as He is the supreme Judge.His Word says,"All have sinned" -Romans 3:23,and also that God cannot overlook sin.His holiness demands that He must pass sentence even on what seems to us slight.
At the same time,however,He is a God who loves us and has given us a Saviour: His beloved Son.Jesus Christ voluntarily took our place in divine judgement in full agreement with His Father.Sin was condemned at the cross of Calvary,where Jesus blotted out the sin of all who lay hold on His work of atonement by faith.
We should never let the thought arise that God will take our sins lightly,particularly since He offers us the means of obtaining His full forgiveness "free of charge" through faith in Jesus Christ.
"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves.Instead,they will live to please Christ,who died and was raised for them." -2 Corinthians 5,15.
God's verdict
"On the whole I'm not worse than other people.I have never done anyone any harm,and God is kind-hearted.He will turn a blind eye to my slight faults and consider my sincere efforts to live uprightly."- So say or think many people.
We can even believe them when they say they are not worse than others.The question is: who are these others? Is a comparison with them a valid argument in God's sight? You see,one day we must all "give account" of ourselves before God (cf Romans 14:12).Then "others" will have no bearing to ourselves.In any case,it would be more advisable to trust our own assessment less and listen to God's verdict,as He is the supreme Judge.His Word says,"All have sinned" -Romans 3:23,and also that God cannot overlook sin.His holiness demands that He must pass sentence even on what seems to us slight.
At the same time,however,He is a God who loves us and has given us a Saviour: His beloved Son.Jesus Christ voluntarily took our place in divine judgement in full agreement with His Father.Sin was condemned at the cross of Calvary,where Jesus blotted out the sin of all who lay hold on His work of atonement by faith.
We should never let the thought arise that God will take our sins lightly,particularly since He offers us the means of obtaining His full forgiveness "free of charge" through faith in Jesus Christ.
"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves.Instead,they will live to please Christ,who died and was raised for them." -2 Corinthians 5,15.
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