Biblical Discernment
Forgiven, Forever
jacksdon@gmail.com
Ephesians 1:3-7
Have you ever noticed how most people, pastors, S.S. teachers, and pew packers pray? Most always we ask God to “forgive us of our sins.” Paul, our apostle, exhorts us to “Pray without ceasing” [1 Thessalonians 5:17]. Someone has said that he means for us to pray with the frequency of a hacking cough. He has set the example for us in praying: “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” [Romans 1:9]. “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith…” [1 Thessalonians 1:2,3]. “…Without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers…” [2 Timothy 1:3]. BUT NEVER DO WE FIND PAUL PRAYING FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN; NEVER DO WE FIND HIM INSTRUCTING US TO PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN. And yet he continually enjoins us to live spiritually, to be continually thankful for all things – even for our suffering.
To most praying saints, the focal point of their petition is to beg God to forgive them for their sins. It would shock and dismay many such devoted and faithful believers, were they to be advised that this is not honoring to God. Why should we not plead with God to be forgiven of our sins? The apostle answers this question frequently throughout his epistles. A notable example is this exhortation: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH [past tense] FORGIVEN YOU” [Ephesians 4:32 – contrast Matthew 6:12,14,and 15].
Every believer in this dispensation of the grace of God [Ephesians 3:2] has been saved by God’s grace [Ephesians 2:8,9] and we are “complete in Him” [Colossians 2:9,10]. We do not pray to God for forgiveness, because we are ALREADY FORGIVEN!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as He has chosen us in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be without blame before Him, in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, through which He hath made us ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED; In whom we have redemption through His Blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS according to the riches of His grace.”
Adapted from an article by Pastor Robert Hanna, Amazing Grace Magazine, July-August, 2007, p 9.
Colossians 2:13 “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He made alive together with Him, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES.”
Do you realize that most church members and preachers do not kn
Forgiven, Forever
jacksdon@gmail.com
Ephesians 1:3-7
Have you ever noticed how most people, pastors, S.S. teachers, and pew packers pray? Most always we ask God to “forgive us of our sins.” Paul, our apostle, exhorts us to “Pray without ceasing” [1 Thessalonians 5:17]. Someone has said that he means for us to pray with the frequency of a hacking cough. He has set the example for us in praying: “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” [Romans 1:9]. “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith…” [1 Thessalonians 1:2,3]. “…Without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers…” [2 Timothy 1:3]. BUT NEVER DO WE FIND PAUL PRAYING FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN; NEVER DO WE FIND HIM INSTRUCTING US TO PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN. And yet he continually enjoins us to live spiritually, to be continually thankful for all things – even for our suffering.
To most praying saints, the focal point of their petition is to beg God to forgive them for their sins. It would shock and dismay many such devoted and faithful believers, were they to be advised that this is not honoring to God. Why should we not plead with God to be forgiven of our sins? The apostle answers this question frequently throughout his epistles. A notable example is this exhortation: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH [past tense] FORGIVEN YOU” [Ephesians 4:32 – contrast Matthew 6:12,14,and 15].
Every believer in this dispensation of the grace of God [Ephesians 3:2] has been saved by God’s grace [Ephesians 2:8,9] and we are “complete in Him” [Colossians 2:9,10]. We do not pray to God for forgiveness, because we are ALREADY FORGIVEN!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as He has chosen us in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be without blame before Him, in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, through which He hath made us ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED; In whom we have redemption through His Blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS according to the riches of His grace.”
Adapted from an article by Pastor Robert Hanna, Amazing Grace Magazine, July-August, 2007, p 9.
Colossians 2:13 “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He made alive together with Him, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES.”
Do you realize that most church members and preachers do not kn
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