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A True Christian's Forgiveness.

A True Christian's Forgiveness.

One of the lessons found in the bible is mankind forgiving mankind. Not only does the bible teach that anybody can have their sins forgiven, but Jesus taught this forgiveness as in the story of the woman caught in adultery. A group of people gathered around Jesus and brought to him a woman caught in adultery (John 7:53-8:11). They knew the Law said that such women should be stoned, so they asked Jesus to test him in the Law. When Jesus saw the woman, he bent down and wrote something on the ground and then said "He who is without sin be the first to stone her." When the crowd heard this, they all walked away.

Jesus wasn't saying that the Law was imperfect, he was demonstrating that he was there to fulfill the Law. Jesus taught something called the New Covenant and through his death and resurrection, gave mankind a new way to live. Jesus was saying that in order for mankind to be forgiven, they have now new standards to work out while they are on earth, and part of realizing their new natures, mankind must be willing to live like Jesus lived. Works salvation says that I must be perfect, but it doesn't say that I don't have to try to be like God.

We all are created in the image of God and we all have souls. When we take on a new nature through faith in the gospel, we don't stop being humans. As a human we are born in sin, this is why there is Original Sin. Through conversion of the heart and mind we are baptized into the body of Christ and are expected to keep the "New Covenant." This covenant is free and is only conditional based on our daily acceptance of the cross. Conversion happens when we repent of our sins, and through faith we can access daily the free gift of Salvation.

We forget that one day we will all stand before God to give an account for our lives; "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10). Christians are all called to live at a higher level than the rest of mankind, because we are in a covenant with God through Jesus Christ. I say higher level because most of us think that because we have been saved we can get away with anything, but the book of Hebrews warns us against wilful sin. The question is not can I loose my salvation, the question should be am I living like a Christian. How does a Christian live? One word, forgiven.

We shouldn't expect God to forgive our sins, if we do not forgive the sins of others. When we forgive mankind for their transgressions against us, we open ourselves up to being eternally forgiven by the Father. Jesus taught unconditional acceptance and unconditional forgiveness. He didn't teach unconditional eternal security. Most of us want to have our sins forgiven, but we are unwilling to do the hard work of loving and forgiving our neighbours. Yes, it can be hard at times but your eternity doesn't just depend on God's forgiveness, but on our willingness to let it go and forgive others.

The doctrine of justification is conditional on our standing with God now, so that when we die, we won't be in a state of sin. This is Mike.

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