Articles

I‘ve talked with a few Christians who have had a difficult time forgiving themselves of sins they‘ve committed in the past. They can‘t understand how God could ever overlook what they had done in the past. Consider what Paul wrote about himself in Acts 26:9-11.

“So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.” 

Paul had committed some extremely violent and egregious sins against the Lord‘s people, yet he was forgiven by God.

He writes in 1 Timothy 1:12-15, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” 

If God can forgive Paul, the foremost of sinners, you can be assured that God has forgiven you. Serve the Lord knowing you are forgiven and others can be as well.