A Righteous and Forgiving Father

Righteous + Forgiving - Continuing our thoughts on God as Father...

To understand His character, His righteousness, we look at His response to the fall. The following portion was taken from the Christian Missionary Alliance and the call to Hope.

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NEED LIGHT?

Do you feel like you live in the dark? Like someone’s turned off the lights, and you can’t find the switch? Do you keep struggling to find a purpose in life, but you come up empty?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, you’re not alone.

You’re living in spiritual darkness—a human condition that’s the result of a broken relationship with God.

We were all born to have a relationship with God. The Bible explains that because we’ve all sinned (turned our backs on God and chosen our own way), we’re separated from God, the only source of true light (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 6:23). And we can‘t fix the problem through our own efforts toward good works (Ephesians 2:9).

We were trapped in our own guilt. Just like a criminal trying to talk a judge out of the sentence that was about to be handed down. It’s too late. The crime has been committed and someone needs to pay.

Now, the good news ...

God desperately wants a relationship with you. That’s why He sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to take your sins—your selfishness, addictions, dysfunctions—on Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus paid the penalty for your crimes! And all so you can live in the light and enjoy a fulfilled relationship with Him—forever!

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Flipping the Switch

The journey toward a fulfilled, illuminated life—begins when you take these three steps . . .

1 ADMIT that you’ve done your own thing; that you’re separated from God. The Bible says that “All have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23) We cannot please God through our own good works: “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:9) Jesus himself said that we must “turn from our sins and turn to God.” (Matthew 4:17).

2 BELIEVE that Jesus died in your place. Jesus died in your place, taking the punishment that you—we all—deserve (Romans 5:8). Three days later He rose from the dead to conquer the power of sin and death so that you could have new life (Romans 6:4-5).

3 COMMIT your life entirely to Jesus and to following His lead. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord . . . you will be saved,” (Romans 10:9)

When you take these steps, you will become a new person, and the Light will go on. You’ll also find your purpose, get to share the Light with others, and live a life for eternity in heaven with Jesus!

A Suggested Prayer

If you’re ready to receive the light of Jesus in your life, we encourage you to say this prayer:

Jesus, I admit to you that I’m a sinner, but I choose to turn from my old ways right now and trust You to save me from myself. I believe You have paid for my crimes and will forgive me and make me a new person. I commit myself to following You. Please come into my life by Your spirit so I can live the light-filled life You’ve promised.

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Understanding why we need forgiveness, how we’ve fallen short, begins to reveal His heart - because if He loves you and me, He loves the world. There is immense hope found in the Father. This is the start to pursuing relationship with Him, accepting His forgiveness. Sharing that forgiveness with others is a part of our calling as the Body.

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all,

to be testified in due time,"

1 Timothy 2:1-6