"Who is a God like You, Who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 NIV
This blessed promise found in Micah is made for God’s people. In order to become a child of God we must humble ourselves, admit we are sinners, believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and repent of our sin. This is the simple way by which we enter into the family of Him Who made us in His image.
When we genuinely profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will truly possess Him.
When we genuinely profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will truly possess Him. We will receive the Holy Spirit within and will be made new. The Holy Spirit will sanctify us from our old nature and will begin to make us more holy and righteous. This promise is not for a select people, but is offered to all people (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9). All have the opportunity of accepting the mercies and compassion that the Lord has given us.
The God of Life, Truth, Goodness, and Love is willing to forgive us of all our sins.
It is in this blessed Truth that we should become excited and motivated. The God of Life, Truth, Goodness, and Love is willing to forgive us of all our sins. We no longer need to live in the muck and mire of this world. No longer must we pollute ourselves with the lusts of this world. No longer must we seek after the things of this life and remain empty. Christ is our Source and Supply! The Holy Spirit is the Heavenly Touch from Above! We may begin to understand all that God has done through His Son if we will simply humble ourselves.
The same God that sent His Son to pay for the sins of mankind allows men to freely blaspheme and mock Him.
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made” (Psalm 145:8-9 NIV). Though the world may seek to relieve themselves of following God by seeing Him as unreasonable, unfair, or not worthy of following, He still remains merciful and compassionate. The same God that sent His Son to pay for the sins of mankind allows men to freely blaspheme and mock Him. The same God Who loved us in our sin allows men to freely indulge in the evil and lusts of the world. This, however, will only be permitted for a time.
God's desire is for all to accept the free gift of salvation through His Son. He longs to share an intimate relationship with those made in His image.
The Lord’s anger is being stored up for the Day of Judgment and Wrath. In this temporal time, however, He remains long-suffering and patient. His desire is for all to accept the free gift of salvation through His Son. He longs to share an intimate relationship with those made in His image.
It is a tragedy that many do not see the glorious redemption upon the Cross because they do not see themselves as sinners.
The libertarian freewill He has given us shows His compassion. He is not a God that forces Himself upon us or forces us to love Him. He is a God that gives us the decision to accept or reject what He has done. It is a tragedy, however, that many do not see the glorious redemption upon the Cross because they do not see themselves as sinners.
The irony is that all of us are sinners. We all are guilty of external and internal sins. Those of us who are being saved by Christ are simply those who have chosen to humble ourselves and admit that we are a fallen creature.
There is no other religion or “god” that shows mercy like the True, Triune God. You can search the world. You can study every text. There is no other religion that will reveal a God dying for His creation.
“But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV). There is no other religion or “god” that shows mercy like the True, Triune God. You can search the world. You can study every text. There is no other religion that will reveal a God dying for His creation. It is only the Christian God that paves the way for salvation and brings meaning behind where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going.
Those who reject Christ simply love their sin more than God’s Son.
Those who reject Christ simply love their sin more than God’s Son. There is no other explanation, and that is why many go to Hell - a place of solitariness and away from the presence of God (which is all that is Good and Love). For in the chambers of God are found Light, Truth, and Life.
When we enter into a living relationship with God through His Son, we can take our anxieties to Him (1 Peter 5:7). We need not fear for our Heavenly Father’s eyes are upon us. He will not allow anything to happen without a Divine reason. Though trials are bound to come, the Lord promises to be there with us. “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10). "“I am with you always, even to the end of the age”” (Matthew 28:20 NKJV).
God calls all to Him. He is the Protector of His children. He is the God Who desires mercy. He knows that our sin will not satisfy or fulfill. Due to this, He longs to reveal what true life is - life that is renewed, sanctified, and restored. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3 NIV).
NO ONE is EVER too far gone to know God. We must trust that it is not by us, but by Christ we are saved.
NO ONE is EVER too far gone to know God. We must trust that it is not by us, but by Christ we are saved; and in the words of Augustine, we must “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.”
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV). May the Light of Christ illuminate our souls. May the Holy Spirit’s presence extend from our being and touch the lives of others through our words and actions.
The world longs for hope. It longs for an answer. Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It is only by Him that we may enter into the Father’s loving arms.
Call out to Christ today and begin your walk with Him. He longs to know you.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You are the God of mercy and compassion. You desire for all to know You. O Lord, we admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior. We admit that we have fallen into things we shouldn’t have. Lord, we are grieved by the evil in the world. We admit that we have felt hopeless at times. We have asked the deeper questions. All of them have led to You, O Lord. Only You, Lord Jesus Christ, make sense of this life. Lord Jesus, we believe that You died on the Cross for our sins. We desire to begin our fresh new walk with You. We know You have forgiven our past. We know that You will continue to help us along this progressive road of faith. Lord, we receive the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name. We begin our journey of knowing You. Thank You, Lord, for being long-suffering and patience with sinners such as us. Now live the life of Christ through us. By Christ’s Blood we have been saved. By the power of the Holy Spirit we may walk down the path of righteousness. We trust Your Word is true, O God. Show us the way. We humble ourselves before You. We enter into Your Love. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for all You have done and will continue to do in and through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lance VanTine