Forgiveness For Sale

Now Jannes and Jambres (who were Christians) resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.’ II Timothy 3:8,9

As we have established in our last two issues, we are in the last days in which Christians are amongst those considered ‘lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power’ and as such the Bible says that Christians will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all.’

Notice Paul says that they will progress no further. But why? He says because their folly will be manifest (wholly evident, exposed) to all. Many of the lifestyles some Christians have been boastfully and proudly living are about to be exposed; not just by men, but by God.

I know some of you are thinking, ‘Well God is a forgiving God and He wouldn’t do that!’ The key word here is ‘forgiving’; and yes, God is El Nasa - ‘The God Who Forgives’ (Ps. 99:8). But the Christians we’ve been referring to have NOT asked for forgiveness. These are unrepentant Christians; those who know to repent, know that repentance is available - but choose or have failed to do so. Those Christians won’t progress further because they haven’t repented and I Peter 4:17, 18 says it best;

‘For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’

Pray this with me:

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for anything (if you know of something in particular you haven’t asked forgiveness for, insert it here) I haven’t asked You to forgive me of. I know there are things in my life that I ignorantly and willfully did not seek forgiveness for, but right now Lord, I’m asking to be forgiven. Your Word says in I John 1:9 that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Well today Heavenly Father, knowing that You are El Nasa, the God Who Forgives, I am asking You to forgive me of all my sins which includes the lifestyle that I have ignorantly, willfully, boastfully, and proudly led. In Jesus’ name. Thank You and Amen. Copyright © 2013 Real Issues Ministries®. All rights reserved.