We have already noted that our sins – ungodly attitudes, thoughts, words and actions (sins of commission) and failure to do what we know to be good (sins of omission) always wound GOD, OTHERS AND OURSELVES. Therefore, we stand in need of forgiveness. In this PPP, we will consider our need for forgiveness by God.
A FORGIVENESS BY GOD
a) To Enter the Kingdom of God
Jesus Christ said: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3)
This doctrine is not popular. However, the scriptural teaching makes it clear that, although we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), since the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis Chapter 3), known as the Fall of Man, every member of the human family (except Jesus Christ) is sinful (selfish) by nature. This sinful nature means that we are ‘separated from God’ (Isaiah 59:2), ‘lost’ (Luke 15:24), ‘in darkness’ (1 Peter 2:9), ‘enemies of the cross of Christ’ (Philippians 3:18), ‘objects of wrath’ (Ephesians 2:3) and ‘dead in our trespasses and sins’ (Ephesians 2:1) – to name just a few of our spiritual conditions which are mentioned in the Bible.
Jesus Christ, the son of God, is the only person to whom God the Father has given the authority to forgive the guilt of all our past, present and future sins and to bring us into the kingdom of God.
Therefore, we must come to God the Father, repent and confess both our sin and also our faith in Jesus Christ, his Son, who died for us and rose again. We must invite Jesus Christ, by his Holy Spirit, to enter and to take control of our lives. Jesus Christ promises to come in. God has forgiven us, he is living in us, we are born again and have entered the kingdom of God! Before we EXISTED but now we LIVE!
b) To Maintain Fellowship with God in His Kingdom
As we grow in our Christian life, we become more conscious of God’s holiness and of our own unworthiness. So. day by day, we need to confess our sins and seek God’s forgiveness. This is emphasised in 1 John 1:8-9
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
When we keep in close contact and friendship with God, we will be fulfilling the words of Jesus Christ in John 15:5 and we will be bearing much fruit
5″I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
