Week 11 - Day 3
THE STORY
You?
RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Acts 2:38 (NIV)
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
After calling us to make it personal through repentance and public through baptism, Peter wants us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our sins are forgiven. Our rebellion has been pardoned, we have been reconciled with God the Father and we are set free from our captivity to sin and Satan. This is the Good News!
Think of the worst sin you have ever committed. Let’s call it your mug-shot sin—the one you are most ashamed of. Do you have it in mind? Now read through the following Bible passages.
Psalm 32:1-5 (NIV)
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.Romans 5:9-11 (NET)
Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
For [God the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
1 John 1:8-9 (NIV)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Through repentance and baptism, you can know that not only your mug-shot sin, but every sin you have ever committed or will commit, have been fully forgiven.
Now pour out your heart in a psalm of thanks to God for His amazing forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
A psalm of ____________ (put in your name).
Blessed am I …
In light of what you have discovered through the Bible readings and your personal reflections, how will you respond? Finish this sentence: I will …