“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
-Isaiah 43:18-19
All too often, as Christians, we condemn ourselves the moment we realize we have sinned. In doing this, we deter ourselves from moving on, causing us to go against what God has planned. We often feel as though we aren’t a “good enough” Christian. We often dwell on the past too. We might think we have “moved on” but then two weeks or a month down the line, we remember what we once were. But, in Luke 17:1 we are told that “things that cause people to sin are bound to come”. God knows that we will stumble and fall. He doesn’t want us to hold ourselves back from Him though. Jesus died so that we could connect with God, although we are sinners.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not
let yourselves be burdened again by yoke of slavery.”
-Galatians 5:1
Psalm 103:13 declares that God has compassion for His children, just as a father has compassion on his children. When a child misbehaves, punishment is required. But, if a child apologizes and changes their actions, the father is quick to forgive them. Even when punishment comes though, it is still love. When a father disciplines his child, it’s because he wants what is best for the child. God forgive us of our sins when we ask for forgiveness and repent. He wipes our slate clean. Just as He does that for us, we should do for ourselves.
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.”
-Isaiah 43:25
“For I will forgive the wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but
that the world through him might be saved.”
-John 3:17
There are many Christians today who feel that they are more superior to others due to their morals, as if what they are is because of human achievement through works. The Pharisees in the New Testament were self-righteous and condemned others. When Christ ate with the sinners and tax collectors, the Pharisees questioned the disciples how Jesus could do that, as if they were better than the sinners. Luke 6:37 tells us not to condemn or we will be condemned. Jesus did not come to condemn mankind but to save them. If we are to live like Jesus did then we need to live on this same principle. We should not condemn anyone but rather help lead them to the salvation that the cross and Jesus’ blood brings.
Some people are scared to go to a church or draw close to God because they fear condemnation and judging. They often forget that Jesus came to save sinners and it’s sinners who need him. Everyone is a sinner and we all deserve to be punished (Romans 3:10-23). However, Christ saved us from that.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
-Luke 19:10
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.”
-1 Timothy 1:15
“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor,
but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
-Mark 2:17
There is much false teaching today because people don’t understand the basic biblical truth. Salvation involves acknowledging one’s guilt of sin under God’s law and then trusting Jesus for forgiveness. There is much condemnation from religious people that involves putting sinners on trial and demand that they clean up their life. Others teach that if a person backslides and sins then they were never really saved and will not see the glory of Heaven. There are also those who say that once someone sins then they have lost all salvation that they had. But it is not the law that saves but faith!
Once a person accepts Christ, then they will always have that salvation unless they condemn the Holy Spirit and deny its presence. Isaiah 64:6 tells us that we have no self-righteousness of our own to offer to God that is acceptable by Him. We need to be like Paul who admitted that he was a sinner and that Jesus saves. Everyone, no matter how much they have sinned, is entitled to the same opportunity to accept Jesus Christ and be forgiven of their sins.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new things!”
-Isaiah 43:18-19
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for
my own sake, and remember your sins no more.”
-Isaiah 43:25
We all have the possibility of backsliding because we are in the flesh. Self-righteousness and spiritual pride are a sin (John 9:41). We cannot grow in Christ nor can we fully accept him if we feel that we are perfect or righteous due to just our obedience to the law. That would mean that we have no need of Jesus. So, if you see a sinner, don’t condemn them.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your
brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is
a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank
out of your own eyes, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
-Matthew 7:3-5
Everyone has their own faults and many try to hide that fact and go to judge and condemn others. Jesus ate with sinners to save them. He went into unbelieving towns to do what? Save them. Wouldn’t you be offended if you backslid and someone said that you were never really saved? Open your eyes to the truth and help save others from the fire.
