Tense words

God has forgiven us: past tense for future offense.

I first thought of this phrase a year ago at the end of last summer here at camp. I was trying to figure out why this truth is important.

So here's my thought process. Christ died for our sins. All of them. He forgives us at the point of our salvation (Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;). He blots out that which we have done and forgives us.  And yet we still are instructed to confess our sins for the purpose of obtaining forgiveness. (1 John 1:9 but if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness) The aforementioned passage is clearly speaking to saved people based on context.


So how do we combine confession with full assurance of our secured salvation?

It really all boils down to a relationship. Our Christian life is not just a quickie "fire insurance" experience. It is an ongoing daily relationship built on love and gratitude.  Unfortunately, though we have been saved and gloriously redeemed, we still sin. Most of us on a daily basis. Most of us more often then that, even!

The problem is a lot of us struggle with this. How can I be saved and still do bad things? Maybe I didn't really get saved that first time.

And then begins a cycle of doubt, "re-salvation", good feelings, doubt, "re-salvation", good feelings.....

But our salvation is not based on us. We are saved. God has saved us and forgiven us from our sins.  However, our relationship with God suffers when we sin. When we lie to our parents, we are still their child, and yet there are still consequences. They no longer trust us and the relationship has been damaged.

John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. 

No man means no man... not even you can cause you to lose your salvation.

Because of Him,
Missa