Welcome to Hank’s Place
Hank’s Place – a place of GRACE. Remember – ALL of God’s blessings come to us through grace alone. He loves you and me – because He loves us; not because we have got things right or walk in total obedience.
Here’s a thought about sin and forgiveness. Mixed Grace may stress that when we sin we don’t lose our salvation; however, we are not forgiven until we confess, citing 1 Jn 1:9. And that fellowship with God is suspended until we confess. Give me a break, please! The Lord came looking for Adam following that first sin! Can you believe that the church is made up of unforgiven Christians (because they haven’t confessed yet) worshiping an unforgiving God? Well, don’t believe it for it’s not true.
How about unforgiveness, which is very common, you know, people taking offense with one another. There are plenty of ‘somebody done me wrong’ songs, and plenty of movies about unforgiveness and revenge and vengeance. Encouraging us in wrong behavior.
Paul in Colossians 3:13 says, “bear with each other and forgive one another if you have a grievance against someone. Forgive – as the Lord forgave you.” Jesus forgave the men who put Him there. Forgave those who tortured Him and cursed Him. None of those men confessed or repented. Some even thought they were doing the Lord’s work. Yet on the Cross Jesus forgave them all – “Forgive them Father for they don’t know what they are doing.” Lu 23:34. So much for taking matters into our own hands.
My friend, we have been forgiven at Calvary. Forgiven before we confessed. Before we were even born. If we should sin in this manner, the Holy Spirit turns on the lights, not to shame us, for Jesus has carried our shame, but to show us the way to vibrant life. Don’t let unforgiveness eat you up. Take hold of the truth that you have been forgiven, that Jesus has willingly taken your sin away and born the punishment, and refuse to let unforgiveness (holding someone’s sin against them) be a part of you! It will eat you up!
I encourage you, thank God He has forgiven you; grant forgiveness to others as Jesus did. You’ll be free – you’ll COME ALIVE!
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