OVERWHELMING TRIUMPH - PART 5

TUESDAY 02 APRIL 2024

Jesus has risen from the dead, and it's important that we know that He did not raise Himself but God raised Him from the dead. When Peter and the apostles stood before the high counsel of Sanhendrin that summoned them, they said to the high priest, "The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins" (Acts 5:30-31 NIV).

In line with the above Scriptures, be mindful of these two important aspects of man's response to God's mercy, which are "repentance" as well as receiving "forgiveness of sins." Christ died and was raised for such reasons, and the application of this knowledge is what personally led me to embrace the gift of God's love in Christ, which is salvation. Furthermore, being born again is a gnosis that conditions my spirit to gain the right perspective that reveals that I am not just born of God's love, I've also received a larger measure of God's grace to walk and function in Christ's victory.

Reference: Colossians 2:15 New International Version (NIV)

"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

The faith that has accepted God's mercy in Christ Jesus is the faith that has the certificate of redemption, which denotes deliverance from sin and its nature, and salvation through His blood, plus the remission of sins as a result of forgiveness of offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the generosity of God's gracious favour.

To that effect, Ephesians 1:7 (AMP) reads, "In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace." In this versified statement, God made absolute provision for two things: Redemption and forgiveness of sins.

As stated in previous parts of this topic, redemption is a deliverance and liberation procured by the payment of a ransom that paid the penalty for our sins. Now watch this: In the case of forgiveness of sins, it is a forgiveness that comes from the Almighty God, which implies that it is accordance with the riches of His grace, not according to the law. So bear in mind that it is something much more than a judge's pardon, or man's forgiveness.

To expound this properly, receiving God's forgiveness of sins is likened to receiving His righteousness. Just as apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:9 (NIV) - "and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith", receiving God's forgiveness of sins in Christ is equally through our faith in Christ; so it is not a forgiveness that comes from the law. Got it?

Sin has a debt penalty to be paid by us which is death (see Romans 6:23), but God judged the One without sin by making Him to become sin for all mankind (2 Corinthians 5:21), and this has made it possible for to us to have redemption and forgiveness of sins in Christ. So forgiveness of sin is a trespass, or offense, or wrong doing that is pardoned. God's forgiveness of sins grants you that unconditional pardon with a "penalty free" consciousness and zero trace of such records, which is far from any way that conforms to the law. His forgiveness does not only take away guilt, but also breaks the power of sin, plus its guilt and condemnation. This forgiveness doesn't come with keeping any record of sin. That's why you receive His own ready-made forgiveness, in accordance with His standard, not according to man's.

To simplify the concept of salvation, in Christ, redemption procured our freedom with a payment of ransom, resulting in remission of sin and its penalty, which keeps no record of sin for those in Christ as though it never happened. Now follow this carefully: As an important advantage, receiving God's forgiveness of sins denotes remission of your sins, which is indicative of the truth that you are freely released - from obligation of sin's penalty or debt, from your end, regardless of the truth that Jesus paid for the penalty from God's end. 

It appears that when sinners repent and receive God's forgiveness of sins, they automatically become new as though they never committed sin. This is because of redemption. Christ Jesus purchased our freedom from sin and its penalty with His precious blood. Why is forgiveness needed since Jesus paid the penalty for your sins? This is because you were subject to sinful nature, and thus, you practised sin as a sinner. So practising sin took place on your end which requires receiving God's forgiveness .

However, Jesus' sacrifice of atonement for your sins means that He has made amends for your wrong doings and guilt in God's sight, thereby turning away God's wrath, removing any record of your sin and cancelling the record of debt that stood against you with its legal demands (which was nailed to the cross). This teaching is by divine inspiration in accordance with Sense of Grace Gospel. Shalom! 

Scripture Reading -  1 Corinthians 15:57; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 6:4.

Exuberant Declaration:

I belong to Christ, and I function in this present world as the ideal manifestation of Christ's overwhelming triumph, in whom all the fulness of God dwells. Hallelujah!