Originally posted by buckky
You know I would hate to be wrong on this Christian issue. I have never been able to buy into the Christian belief for a million reasons, but what if I'm wrong ? I will really be up #hit creek. I'm been a real creep at times in my life, and I'm no saint to say the least. I hope I'm not judged by a non liberal. I hope God is a big time Liberal, and He cut's me some big time slack. I hope God is a peace, and love hippie type.
Bucky, I don't know about your "million" reasons. But I can tell you that the deep peace and assurance that I am reconciled to God is not a matter in God being sentimental or loose in a flower child kind of way.
Justice has taken place on the cross of Jesus on our behalf. In the death of Christ on His cross justice was imputed by a righteous Judge on behalf of the sinner.
It is not as if God has said "Well, I know you didn't mean it. Let's just forget about it. I forgive you."
No, it is not a sentimental forgiveness. It is a forgiveness of which you can be assured deep within your being because you know that in your place, Christ the Son of God, has taken the penalty of your sins upon Himself.
Listen to this passage:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
In this passage it is not that God is
faithful and merciful to forgive. (Though He is merciful). This verse emphasizes that God is faithful and
RIGHTEOUS to forgive us our sins for Christ's sake.
In other words it is the
RIGHTEOUS thing for God to do.
Righteousness is the foundation of God's throne. For Christ's sake, whether He likes you or He doesn't like you, it is
RIGHTEOUS for Him to forgive you because Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.
Never forget this. For Christ's sake God is faithful and RIGHTEOUS to forgive us our sins - who believe into Christ, who confess our sins based upon Christ the Savior.
This is judicial. This is official. This is irrevocable. This is a matter of God being true to His own eternally righteous being. He has to forgive you . You have been judged already - in Christ, on His cross, JUSTICE has been imputed on your behalf.
That is the way it works if you trust your salvation to Jesus Christ.
In other words your sins have been forgotten. He doesn't remember once you come to Christ. The matter is settled by the justice of Calvary on the sinner's behalf.