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Friday, August 27, 2004 |
The Forgiveness Of God In Him we have . . . the forgiveness of sins . . . — Ephesians 1:7 Beware of the pleasant view of the fatherhood of God: God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That thought, based solely on emotion, cannot be found anywhere in the New Testament. The only basis on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ. To base our forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way! Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours. Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive—He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God’s forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm. Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is small. Sanctification is simply the wonderful expression or evidence of the forgiveness of sins in a human life. But the thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin. Paul never got away from this. Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.
3:15:33 PM 
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Daily Discipleship - The Abundant Life  | | Devotional for Friday, August 27, 2004 | | | | The Abundant Life
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." - John 15:16
Let's begin today with a little absurdity. Let's say an investment firm phones a wealthy person and asks him to let them invest all his money for him. I'm sure the rich man would ask, "And what would be the return on my investment?"
Here comes the shocker. "Based on our research, we can guarantee that you will lose no more that $50,000 a year. Yes, sir, you can count on it. Let us take control of your money, and in a few years you will be broke."
The man would decline the offer, wouldn't he?
Now, Christian, if we have only one life to invest, we'd better ask about the bottom line. What does God promise in John 15 to those who follow Christ? First, Jesus says, "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit" (verse 5). Second, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (verse 7). Third, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (verse 11). Fourth, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love" (verse 10). Think of it! A life enveloped in the love of God. Then He summarizes: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit... Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" (verse 16).
Friend, how do you like those dividends!
Prayer
Lord, may I seek my all in You. Amen.
To Ponder
The world tries to buy joy, love, and lasting fruit. But those things only come to us one way--by abiding in Christ! |
The text for this devotional comes from the NavPress book Daily Discipleship, which features devotionals taken from radio broadcasts by long-time Navigator LeRoy Eims. For more information or to order a copy, visit the NavPress website.
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8:52:17 AM
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