Don’t Let Your ‘Past’ Keep You from Living in the Freedom and Joy of the Lord.

One of the most often heard quotes from the apostle Paul is found in the third chapter of the book of Philippians. After listing all the things that he has been through—both the good and the bad—Paul reaffirms his intention to continue to pursue Christ after first saying “this one thing I do, FORGETTING those things which are behind [in the past].”

The very moment we believed to be saved we were washed of all sin and regenerated and we had no part in it except that we ‘believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.’

“And they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house [this offer is unto the members of your household also].” (Acts 16:31 (KJV)

The objective of this writing is to show how sin attempts to deceive us by injecting thoughts and ideas into our minds that do not originate with us.  It is the hope that after reading this article, the reader will know how sin works its way into our lives and be better equipped through the gospel to know assuredly that sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). 

Believers need to know, understand and appreciate that the salvation they enjoy has to do with these Biblical terms that develop in this order.

God created man in His own “image,” as a vessel well suited to receive and be in union with God.

But, Adam & Eve were tempted of the lie of the Devil to “Sin” in disobedience…

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Chapters One and Two, present a dark picture of the human race, but if you acknowledge the facts they record, you have taken the first step to salvation. By nature all of us tend to shrink back from facing up to our sins and our latent sinful nature… but we are better off if we do.

If a man has early indications of cancer, and his physician keeps the truth from him, the patient will die of cancer. A good and wise physician will say: “You have cancer and we should do something about it without delay.”

Centuries before Christ, the Psalmist said: “If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities… who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee…” (Psa. 130:3-4).

Paul’s thirteen epistles reveal that the believer who has trusted in Christ for their salvation and justification before God the Father lives the grace position of already having been forgiven of ALL sins.

The frustrating experience I experienced and referenced in Part 1 of this series concerned hearing a so-called Christian preacher teach “the law’s” basis of ‘forgiveness’ as if it applies to the members of “the church, which is His body” today. This prompted me to write this paper.

“We have… the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).

The climax of Paul’s first recorded sermon is reached in Verses 38 and 39 of Acts 13, where he declares:

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

“And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”