Coming Back to God

Forgiveness and reconciliation are essential for salvation. The Apostle Paul implores us to be reconciled so a right standing with God can be achieved. Reconciliation requires God’s forgiveness. It clears away guilt for sin committed against God that has become an obstacle to fellowship with him. Confession of sins sets the stage for reconciliation.

 

Repentance is more than feeling sorry for sins. It involves a commitment to change your attitude about sin, to see sin as evil and responsible for creating the wall that separated you from God. Because of his great love for you, the Lord is willing to help you achieve reconciliation if you desire it with all your heart.

       

In addition to forgiveness’ liberating your soul from sin, forgiveness empowers you to eternally redefine yourself in the light of God’s love and mercy. God will never let you go. He intends for you to strengthen your fellowship with him so that the righteousness of Christ Jesus in you becomes evident to others. They will desire to have what you have.  

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Everything that we have – right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start – comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.

~1 Corinthians 1:30 The Message

Become a friend with God; he’s already a friend with you. “How?” you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

~2 Corinthians 5:20-21 The Message

       

The Voice of Conscience: Turn It Back On - Part 2

Losing the battle of conscience ultimately causes prolonged suffering. A clear conscience enlightened by the presence of Christ Jesus, however, brings freedom from shame and guilt. Everyone can choose to tune out the voice of conscience and allow it to grow cold and hardened, but the freedom they're searching for is never realized.

The saddest consequence of the progressive deadening of conscience is a loss of connectedness to the Lord God and those who love you. Perdition is a strange word derived from Latin that means to throw away or lose the soul. Willfully shutting down the conscience and the voice of Christ within you can be devastating.

How long has it been since you felt connected to God or others? God sent Jesus to save you from bad choices. His purpose reaches beyond this objective. He sent Jesus to save you from eternal separation from himself, so choose to let God save you by committing your life to Christ Jesus. This is the most important decision you will ever make.