If we are forgiven by Jesus as a free gift of grace and our salvation does not depend on being good enough to get to heaven, then what is our motivation for doing the things God commands? It is an understandable question. The answer that is usually given is that when you have been forgiven …
Tag: forgiveness
Forgetting is Not Forgiving
How many times have you heard the statement, "I can forgive, but I can't forget"? When I hear those words they are nearly always spoken with a tone that says, "I am holding on to the pain and I will deal with the offender accordingly". What seems to be said is, I forgive, therefore I …
What Can Lord of the Rings Teach Christians about Community? Pt 1
The classic trilogy written by J.R.R. Tolkien has been dissected countless times as people have sought to plumb its philosophical and theological depths. There have been volumes written on the world view presented by Tolkien, on the nature of good and evil, on the place of sacrifice and honor, on courage and fear, and a …
Continue reading What Can Lord of the Rings Teach Christians about Community? Pt 1
Why Don’t We Love God More? part 4 of 4
Do you find yourself from time to time treating your sin as if it is no big deal, not as bad as some other people you know? If you do then you will fail to experience the full delight and freedom that comes from the forgiveness God offers. You will always carry around a hidden …
Why Don’t We Love God More? pt3
"Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from …
Why Don’t We Love God More? pt 2
The Great Commandment is not to love the Lord your God with a LITTLE of your heart, mind, soul, and strength, but with ALL your heart, mind, soul, and strength. It is a command to love God much, very much, as much as possible. But if it is true that people, who are forgiven little, …
Why Don’t We Love God More? Part 1
It is my contention that if we really loved God in a Great Commandment way, with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, then we would be living far differently from the way most Christians currently live. The strange part is that given the level of blessing and abundance that the church in the west …
Forgiveness: Our Most Difficult Calling
"Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you have against each other. Forgive as the Lord forgives you" Colossians 3:13 As Christians we are usually very in tune to having been forgiven by Christ, at least when we first come to faith in Him. What is much more difficult is forgiving people as we …