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

The question of whether the 'believer' was an actual believer at the time of murder arises, but yes, God forgave the world of ALL sin through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Someone who truly believes this sees what God has done for them out of His love. The indwelling Spirit then guides the true believer away from their sin nature, but if it is possible for a true believer to commit murder post-salvation even that believer was forgiven at the cross.

Saul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul) was a murderer, or at least "consenting" to it prior to his 'eyes being opened'. I cannot see any possibility of him desiring to murder again after the revealing of how great God's grace is. I personally believe that this is a primary reason as to why God chose Paul to be the post-cross apostle. It was to show that ALL were forgiven because of God's love for us. That truth can make even a murderer like Paul want to now live for God.

2 Cor 5:19
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

Rom 5:8
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Col 3:13
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Col 1:14
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"

God is "NOT imputing" our sins today! He "FORGAVE" us at the cross, where we actually see His love and His completed "FORGIVENESS" of all of our sins! Does this mean that all mankind has been saved? NO! It is the means by which all mankind has been offered the free gift of salvation. You must have faith/belief to accept His gift. Belief in what exactly? Believe that God forgave you of your sins through Jesus Christ... your savior!

1 Cor 15:1-4
"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:"

We are presented with "the gospel", by which we "are saved", if we will "believe" that Jesus Christ "died for our sins", "was buried", but "rose again"!

Not once in Paul's thirteen epistles are we told how to get our sins forgiven. Why? It is because Paul's gospel states that our sins ARE forgiven! What we are told is that by God's grace we have been offered God's gift of salvation by believing that our sins were forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We are told that upon placing our faith in Christ, His blood, and the work that He completed for us we are MADE the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21)!

How is this possible? God's grace is greater than our greatest sin!

Rom 5:20
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:"

THIS is the news that makes the murderer desire living the life of the saint that God will now see him as upon having faith. Our position with God moves from being a sinner in the flesh, to now being born of the Spirit, by whom we are then guided and secured for eternity (Eph 4:30)!

Eph 1:12-14
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

November 19 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report