I have heard twice in the last six months about females who will not go to their high school class reunions because they are too ashamed of their past behavior! They have carried this shame and guilt for 30 plus years! This breaks my heart and this blog is for them! No one reading this is without sin! No one! We have all made bad decisions. Romans 3: 23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. I have done plenty that I am ashamed of! Shame, guilt and regret will paralyze you! And nothing sets more people on the sideline than shame! Be set free! Please read this good news!
There were lots of bad girls in the Bible. And bad boys! These stories are in the Bible to teach us. Read to the end of this to see the good news! John 8: 1-11, "But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Friends, we don't come to Jesus clean, we come to Jesus to get cleaned. To be washed clean by His blood. Jesus set this woman free. Jesus told her I don't condemn you. She had a life changing experience with Jesus and because of that she was able to take her next step forward. Did she sin again? Of course she did. Jesus knew she would sin again but I believe He will take progress over perfection. He knows we will sin again. I believe she was able to hold her head high because she knew she was a child of God. Her past was forgotten and if Jesus could forget it then who cares what the Pharisees said?!
We are told numerous times in the Bible when our sins are forgiven they are forgotten. Hebrews 8: 12, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Isaiah 43: 25, ""I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Psalm 103: 12, "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Micah 7: 19, "You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
Romans 8: 1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," This means if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and asked His forgiveness, we will not come into judgment. We will not be condemned, ever! Our sentence is over! We are not guilty! Jesus died on the cross for us. His punishment was our punishment. Didn't He suffer enough? Accept His forgiveness. Let go and grow! While this woman was sinning, while you and I were sinning, Jesus was changing condemnation to celebration.
If you are a child of God, you are a new creation. If you are not, it is not too late. 2 Corinthians 5: 17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" You are so worthy that Jesus died on the cross for you! John 3: 16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
When we are forgiven our sins are forgotten! Thanks be to God! Let's turn condemnation to celebration! Jesus loves you so much! You are a child of God which makes you a princess! Straighten that crown and hold your head high!
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