Tag Archives: Forgiveness

How Was David a Man After God’s Own Heart?

Posted on by under Repentance

            There are passages of scripture that we may ponder more than others.  One of those is the statement that David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22).  We likely remember what David did in committing adultery with Bathsheba and how he had her husband, Uriah the Hittite, killed in battle to cover it up.  So, we may wonder at how this man is to be commended.  Fortunately for David, and for us, we are not judged by just one moment in time.  So how did David become a man after God’s own heart?

            First, David owned his sins.  When Nathan confronts David over his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah in 2 Samuel 12, David makes no excuses.  He simply admits that he had sinned (2 Sam. 12:13).  This is unlike Saul, who constantly blamed others for his shortcomings (1 Sam. 13:10-12; 1 Sam. 15:20-21).

            Second, David repented of his sins.  David’s deep remorse over what he had done can be seen in Psalm 51, which shows David’s feelings and his broken heart because he had transgressed the law of God.  David wrote, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3 NKJV).

            Third, David trusted in God to forgive him.  Nathan told David that God had forgiven him (2 Sam. 12:13b).  David trusted in that forgiveness and placed his faith in God.  Several places in the Psalms show us that David trusted in God (Psalm 16:1; 20:7; 31:14; 62:8).

            We should also be like David.  We need to own our sin, repent of what is wrong in our lives, and trust in God to forgive us, as He said He would.  If God has forgiven us, we don’t need to carry that guilt any longer in our lives.  Therefore, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1b).  While none of us are perfect, we can be people after God’s own heart if we do these three things.

Return to Me

Posted on by under Doctrine

1280px-Minnesota_soldier_returns_home     We often rejoice in seeing loved ones return to one another after time away.  Perhaps there was some conflict or estrangement that kept them apart.  Perhaps some grudge that had to be overcome for them to be together again.  Maybe it is the return home of those who have been involved in military duty overseas.  Whatever the reason, there is joy in witnessing their reunion again after being apart.

     We should have the same joy in seeing those who have been estranged from the Lord being reunited to Him.  Often times those who have wandered away from God may feel that they cannot overcome their sinful desires, or that perhaps, God will not forgive them of their transgressions.  Neither of those are the case, however.  God through the writing of Paul makes it abundantly clear that they can be washed clean of their sins if they will repent and return (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

     Many times God was angry with Israel for not obeying His commands.  They refused to remove the inhabitants of Canaan and to destroy their idols, and instead served those foreign gods, offering their children as sacrifices (Psalm 106:34-39).  Therefore, they were given into the hands of their enemies and they were oppressed (Psalm 106:40-42).  Yet each time they cried out to the Lord for deliverance, each time they returned to the Lord, He heard the cries of His people and delivered them out of danger (Psalm 106:43-45).  God delivered them because He wants to be merciful.  If you have wandered away, God also wants to show you mercy and forgiveness.

     In order to get God’s mercy, we need to return to Him.  God promised Israel in times past, “but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name” (Nehemiah 1:9, NKJV).  God makes the same promise to us also.  He does not want any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Jesus said that when we return, there is much rejoicing.  “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

     God wants us to return to Him.  He wants us to be with Him for eternity.  He does not want any to be lost.  If you are willing to repent, He is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9).  If you have wandered astray, won’t you return to Him now?

I Beg Your Pardon

Posted on by under Doctrine

     Richard Nixon is credited with once saying that if the President did it, it was not illegal.  However, after months of investigative journalism, congressional hearings, subpoenas, and contemplation of impeachment, he found out otherwise.  Nixon eventually resigned as President.  The only thing that kept him from suffering the same legal consequences as his cohorts, was a presidential pardon by his successor.

     This bit of history shows us that no one is above the law.  Without a pardon from above, we will all suffer the consequences of our actions.  We know that all have sin in their life.  The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NKJV).  Furthermore, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).  Our natural state, without that pardon or forgiveness from above, is to be dead in our sins and in a lost condition.

     But thanks be to God that forgiveness is available!  We need to be willing to confess our sins rather than trying to cover them up (1 John 1:9).  We need to be willing to repent of those things that are contrary to God’s word (Luke 13:3; 2 Corinthians 7:10).  Having godly sorrow will lead us to a change of mind, a change of direction, which is what repentance is really about.  It is more than just being sorry that we were caught with our hand in the proverbial cookie jar.

     We need to seek out God’s pardon and forgiveness, because none of us is perfect.  We must throw ourselves on His mercy in order to have that eternal life we so desire.  We must be willing to change our lifestyle, to do our best to go our way and sin no more.  God offers us a pardon from our sins.  Are you willing to do your part to receive that forgiveness?

God’s Path to Salvation – Step Five – Be Baptized

Posted on by under Doctrine

baptism     After hearing and believing the Word, if we are willing to submit to God by confessing our allegiance to Christ and repent of the things we are doing that are wrong, we can become a child of God by being baptized for the remission of our sins.  This step in God’s path to salvation seems to be the most misunderstood and most debated of all of what God requires of us.  Yet, it is a simple step, which the pages of scripture call us to do.  Jesus commands baptism.  The apostles commanded baptism.  Paul was instructed to be baptized.  All of those who converted to Christianity that we can read about in the book of Acts were baptized as part of their conversion.  If you do not believe me, see what God’s Word says about the subject!

     As Jesus was bidding His disciples farewell just before ascending into heaven, He gave them His final instructions.  “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16NKJV).  Notice here that Jesus states that the one who is a believer and has been baptized will be saved.  It is the same as saying, he who has a ticket and gets into line will be admitted to the game.  We have to have the ticket first in order to get into the game.  If we do not have a ticket, there is no sense in getting into line.  Thus, we have to believe before we are baptized.  If we do not believe, then baptism alone will not affect us.  Additionally, it does us absolutely no good to have a ticket for the game, but to never get into line to enter the building.  Just buying our ticket does not grant us admittance.  Likewise, in order to be saved one must believe and be baptized.

     In Matthew’s recording of the great commission, he writes that Jesus told them to make disciples from all of the nations (Matthew 28:19).  How is it that they were to make disciples?  Jesus tells them how.  He said that they were to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all of Christ’s commandments (Matthew 28:19-20).  That is how disciples are made.  If you have not been baptized, you are not a disciple (follower) of Jesus Christ.

     It is the act of baptism that washes away our sins.  God did His part in sending His one and only unique Son to die on our behalf, so that our sins might be covered.  Jesus died so that we could be cleansed, sanctified, made holy, and set apart (Romans 5:6-11).  But we also have to do our part in accepting that grace of God.  It is not enough for us to receive a great prize notification, and say that we are rich.  We must claim that prize in order for it to have the intended effect.  It is the act of baptism that puts us in contact with the blood of Christ.  The water has no magical properties, but the act of obedience to what the Lord commanded means that His blood cleanses us from sin.  Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “. . . do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).  Being buried with Him in the likeness of His death signifies how we come in contact with the blood He shed, so that our sins can be covered.  Being compared to a burial also tells us of the method of baptism.  It is an immersion, a complete covering.  Otherwise, it is not a burial.

     Peter said that baptism was the act that removes our sins when he preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost.  On that day the doors of the church were opened for the first time.  Peter explained that those Jews in Jerusalem had been responsible for rejecting Christ and having Him crucified.  They were responsible for His death.  Imagine how they must have felt when Peter showed them that they had put the one and only Son of God to death!  This news pricked them in their hearts.  They were convicted by the word.  They were convinced that they had done wrong.  They wanted to know what they could do to get out of such a terrible predicament (Acts 2:22-37).  “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).  Notice what Peter did not tell them to do.  He did not say to just accept Jesus in your heart and all would be well.  He did not say to repeat a “sinners prayer,” which is not found in Scripture, in order to be saved.  He told them to repent and be baptized.  One is no good without the other.  They were to be baptized for the remission of sins.  Since baptism is the way to remit our sins, if we are not baptized our sins are not remitted.  Later Peter would write that baptism now saves us (1 Peter 3:21).

     One last example to consider is the conversion of Paul.  Paul was a persecutor of the church.  He did not believe in Jesus.  As he was on the way to Damascus to round up more Christians for trial and execution, he saw a bright light and heard the voice of Christ.  Surely that would be enough to save Paul, right?  Notice what Paul was told to do by Jesus.  “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6b).  So Paul went into Damascus.  There he was told what he must do in order to be saved.  When Ananias came to him, Paul had been praying and fasting for three days (Acts 9:9).  Ananias said to Paul, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

     Notice that Paul was not saved by seeing Jesus.  He was not saved by speaking to Jesus.  He was not saved by praying and fasting for three days.  If he had been, then why would Ananias have to tell him to be baptized to wash away his sins?  If he had already been saved prior to baptism, there would be no sins that still needed to be washed away.  Notice also that Ananias tells Paul how to call upon the name of the Lord.  You may recall from step one of God’s path to salvation that in Paul’s writing to the Romans in chapter 10 of that letter, Paul told them that those who are saved are those who call upon the name of the Lord.  How do we call upon the name of the Lord?  We do so by obeying Him.  Ananias told Paul that baptism is how we wash away our sins, and how we call upon the name of the Lord.

     The Bible tells us that all of our spiritual blessings are to be found in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  Those who are in Christ are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1).  Those who are in Christ are new creatures, having been born again (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Salvation is only to be found in Christ (2 Timothy 2:10).  In Christ, we can have eternal life (1 John 5:11).  So how do we get in Christ in order to receive all of these blessings?  We get in Christ by being baptized into Christ.  “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27, emphasis added).  We must be in Christ to receive the blessings.  We get in Christ by obeying what He has told us to do.  For that, He commanded us to be baptized.