TOPIC: CHRIST’S POWER TO FORGIVE SIN
Bible Reading: Joshua 19-20; Luke 5:17-39
“And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” Luke 5:20,32 (KJV)
Christ’s mission on earth is well spelt out in the above two verses of scriptures. He came to demonstrate God’s love by calling sinners to repentance and subsequent forgiveness. Most times we are taken captive of reproaches including illness as a result of our sin. It was imperative that the man taken with a palsy be released from lawful captivity of sin to clear the way for his eventual healing. This is preaching deliverance to the captive. Christ, as the incarnate Word of God, exercised His authority adequately by forgiving the sin of the man taken by palsy and then released him from the prison of palsy. Christ mission on earth is the calling of sinners to repentance but He had to make adequate arrangement for their forgiveness by paying the price of sin and conferring righteousness on man (2 Corinthians 5:21).
He bought our forgiveness by His redemption work at Calvary by shedding His blood and dying on our behalf. Romans 3:25(KJV) says, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” The bible says that “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” 1John 1:8(KJV). It is of a necessity that we must repent of our sins and come with a repentant heart to God for Christ work of love at Calvary to be beneficial to us.
Salvation is a gift of God’s love and must be seen as that for it is the work of grace. We must recognize that His mission is not to judge us but to, in love, call us to repentance and subsequent forgiveness of sin. For the bible says in John 1:9 (KJV), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Another purpose of Christ manifestation among men is stated clearly in Scriptures in 1 John 3:8 (KJV), “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
Christ came for all humanity not for any particular tribe or nation. He came for all, hence Acts 4:12(KJV) says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men. Whereby we must be saved.” For who He is and the purpose for which He came Jesus Christ our Lord has the power to forgive sin of which yours is inclusive even while on earth.
Prayer: Father thank you for grace extended to me in redemption.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo