Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

Our sins were forgiven nearly 2,000 years ago (Colossians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:19), and salvation occurs at the moment of belief in this, the gospel of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13). Nothing that we ourselves do in the flesh can assist in what Christ completed for us (Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 2:10). It's literally how we accept Jesus Christ as our savior from this present evil world (Galatians 1:4).

God is no longer imputing sin to anyone today (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). All our sins, past, present, and future, were nailed to the cross so that we are no longer burdened with the anguish of being unable to live up to God's requirements. Jesus Christ was perfect on our behalf, and God was in Christ on the cross reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). Our job is to reconcile ourselves to God through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished cross work on our behalf, believing the gospel that saves today:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV:
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

When we believe this, we are sealed with the holy Spirit until the day of redemption, and thankfully not just until we sin again (Ephesians 4:30)…which we will most likely do as humans (Romans 7:22-25) KJV. Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)! The Spirit can now work effectually through us as we have finally removed the focus of ourselves and our iniquities and placed our focus on Jesus Christ and His completed work on the cross (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

January 01 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Christi Higgins

Reconciliation is one of the seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church. For mortal sins that damage your friendship with God you must confess to an ordained priest whereby God absolves your sins but the priest speaks the actual words of absolution to you. You then are assigned a penance. Mortal sin examples are adultery, murder, lying, stealing, missing Mass on holy days of obligation plus Sundays without a good reason. During Mass we ask forgiveness for less serious sins venal. 

If you are Catholic this is how you confess your sins. Through God nothing is impossible so that means it’s not entirely impossible to just ask God and He will forgive you for any sin. But how do you know for absolute certain you are absolved? For example if you murder and have not turned yourself in to pay for that sin a priest cannot offer absolution. But that priest is never permitted to turn you in either. All that is said is between you, God and priest.

December 31 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report