The Forgiveness of Sins

Date: July 12, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

B - Bible Verse: "Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)

L - Listen for God's Voice and pray: "Heavenly Father, as I dig into Acts 13:38-39, open my heart to Your truth. Help me grasp the significance of the freedom we have in Jesus and the forgiveness of sins through Him. Teach me to live in the fullness of this freedom and to share it with others. In Jesus' name, amen."

E - Explore the History and Meaning: The book of Acts, which was written by Luke, provides an account of the early Christian Church and the spread of the gospel. He documented Paul’s teachings so that there would be a historical account of Paul’s ministry. In this particular passage, Paul delivers a powerful message to the people in Antioch, proclaiming the forgiveness of sins and freedom through faith in Jesus Christ.   Paul emphasizes that through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to everyone. The sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus made it possible for everyone who believes in Him to be set free from the bondage of sin. This freedom is something that could not be achieved by observing the law of Moses alone. Through Jesus, believers are justified before God, declared righteous, and released from the guilt and condemnation of sin.

S - Study the Key Words or Phrases: 

Forgiveness of sins: Refers to the act of God's grace through which our sins are pardoned and washed away. It is made possible through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Set free: Describes the liberation from the power and penalty of sin that believers experience through their faith in Jesus Christ.

Justification: Signifies being declared righteous before God, having our sins forgiven, and being reconciled to Him through faith in Jesus.  I was always taught that Justification means, “Just as if I never sinned.”  It means that through our faith in Jesus Christ, believers are declared righteous and our sins are forgiven. In God’s eyes, we are treated as if we never sinned because of the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. 

Law of Moses: Refers to the religious regulations and commandments given to the Israelites in the Old Testament, which highlighted human inability to achieve righteousness on their own.

S - Summarize and Share:

This verse in Acts is all about the incredible freedom we have in Jesus. It means that no matter who we are or what we've done, forgiveness is available to us through faith in Jesus. He offers a fresh start, wiping away all our past mistakes. It's like hitting the reset button on our lives!

You know, sometimes we carry the weight of our sins, feeling guilty and condemned. I’ve actually heard people say, "I'll never get to heaven after the things I've done." But let me tell you something, as long as we believe in Jesus and ask for His forgiveness, we are assured of our place in heaven.

God's love is so vast and His forgiveness so complete that no sin is too great to be forgiven. He doesn't hold our past against us. Instead, He invites us to come to Him, surrender our brokenness, and embrace His forgiveness. It's a journey of transformation, where we experience His grace and love in unimaginable ways.

You see, heaven is not a reward for being perfect or earning our way there. It's a gift given to us by God's amazing grace. Through faith in Jesus, we are made righteous, and our sins are washed away. It's not about what we've done, but about what Jesus has done for us.

Let’s stop dwelling on our past mistakes and letting them hold us back. Instead, let's embrace the forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus. Let's walk in the assurance that heaven is our eternal home because of His sacrifice. And let's share this incredible hope with others who need to hear it.

Bible Cross References

Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

John 8:36 - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Romans 6:18 - "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

Ephesians 1:7 - "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."