God already put us in the righteousness column. We have not been partially forgiven, we have been completely forgiven in Christ. God has already declared us righteous and “not guilty.” It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t ask for forgiveness when I sin. No, it means he did it for me. And I recognize his works hence I do not live in sin. It means I repent from dead works of relying on my ability to please him.
As the old hymn sings.
Jesus Paid it all,
Unto him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
This is not a feel-good-message, but it is the revolutionary truth of God’s word that doesn’t give us liberty to sin. It instead gives us freedom to hate sin knowing we have been forgiven in him.
We have been declared righteous and forgiven. No longer bound. It is utterly ludicrous to think our work is generates God’s forgiveness. No way. He forgave us based on the work of his son.
Inspirational Nugget = True grace teaches freedom and forgives and Mother Teresa once said, “Forgiveness is the greatest presence of peace.”
Evans Akpo 