The sad, self-inflicted reality for so many religious people is this: they allow the devil to hand over their promissory note, which has been torn by Jesus once and for all, and glue the scraps of paper back together.
In doing so, they ignore that about 2,000 years ago, Jesus forgave all sins once and for all: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7; NIV)
Sinners go to hell
It’s frightening how many religious people see themselves as sinners, and they beg (for example, with the Lord’s Prayer from times of the Old Covenant before the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross) for forgiveness of their sins. They miss the exclamation of Jesus on the cross: Tetelestai! All debt paid.
Only saints have fellowship with God
Only saints come into the glorious presence of God. And Jesus makes everyone, believing in the finished work of him, holy: “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians chapter 1, verses 21-23; NIV)
Don’t waste your time begging for the forgiveness of your sins, but instead, use this time to praise and thank Jesus and ask for His mighty help that you sin less and less.
- We didn’t deserve to be made righteous, just like Jesus didn’t deserve to be made sin
- Is salvation free? For you, yes.
Become aware of your identity: “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14; NIV)