Redemption

How many of us can say we haven't sinned? I don't think anyone on earth can claim that perfection. And sometimes our transgressions are huge; so huge that we wish we could sever that part of us away. We wish that God would appear right before you and tell you that you are forgiven and not to worry. I am going to tell you that this wish is a reality.

Let's start at the beginning. Sin exists because of a lovely thing called 'temptation.' All the way back to the first sin when the serpant tempted Eve to eat from the Tree. This act has been in our human nature ever since;

'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptaion. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.' Matthew 26:41

This passage also reminds us to pray before hand so as to avoid temptaion; a saving grace we often don't use. I have learned that if you do indeed pray mightily to be saved from temptaion, your prayers will be answered; Even if it's because you were just busy praying.

I think often times why we don't is because we let our bodies be stronger than our spirits. Another common habit of human nature.

Jesus was tempted by Satan also. Let's look at Luke, Chapter 4:

'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit to the desert where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written. 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So, if you worship me, it will all be yours."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord you God and serve him only.'"

The devil led him to Jeruselem and had him stand on the highest point of hte temple. "If you are the Sond of God, " he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written:

He will command his angels

concerning you

to guard you carefully;

they will lift yoiu up in their hands

so that you will not strike your foot

against a stone.

Juses answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'

Whe the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."

Jesus fought away temptaion just showing us how capable we are of doing the same. After all, at that time, Jesus was just a man like all of us.

Here is one of my favourite verses regarding the subject of temptation:

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up to it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.

And don't let these words discourage yoiu. I realize that we don't take the way out he provides us with every time. And the cool part is, God knows that that would happen! And so it is written:

"-maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." Exodus 34:7.

And that's why Jesus died on the cross! He was beaten ruthlessly and left to die on a piece of wood because we make such stuped mistakes. God loves us that much!

"This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 25:28.

And it's even simpler than that:

"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him recieves forgiveness of sins through his name." Aacts 10:43.

Now, I know you're thinking, 'how can it be that easy?' It's that easy because not only does God love us that much, he also knows how unforgiving we can be on ourselves. Because even when he's moved past it, we're still angry at ourselves. And, as always, he gives us a passage for this also:

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers, I don not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phillippians 3:12-14.

If God can forgive some of the horrible things we do, surely we can also forgive ourselves and more importantly, forgive others; our brothers and sisters in Christ. I encourage yoiu all, if yoiu have someone in you life (including yourself) that youhave not yet forgive, please do so now. God already has. God bless!