Epic Forgiveness
Adapted and updated by Kelly Mowrer from Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, July 30
"I won't send away anyone who comes to Me." John 6:37 (CEB)
There is no time limit set on this promise. Jesus doesn't simply say "I won't send away anyone the first time they come to Me." He says, "I won't send away anyone who comes to Me." The original language reads, "I will not, not cast out," or "I will never, never cast out." The text means that Christ will not at first reject a believer, and He will never reject a believer.
But what if I sin after coming?
"If you do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one." 1 John 2:1
But what if I slide back into harmful habits? What if I sin repeatedly?
"I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for My anger has turned from them." Hosea 14:4
But what if the temptation feels so strong I'm afraid I won't be able to resist it?
"God is faithful. He won't allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it." I Corinthians 10:13
Even when believers fall into sin as David did, they can trust that God hears as they pray the prayer of David, "Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Psalms 51:7
And God answers each of our fearful, guilt-ridden hearts with the promise "I will cleanse them of all the wrongdoing they committed against Me, and I will forgive them for all of their guilt and rebellion." Jeremiah 33:8
"Once in Christ, in Christ for ever,
Nothing from His love can sever."
"My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from My hand." John 10:28
What can we say to this, even at our most fearful, lowest moments? It is mercy indeed that when we come to Christ, He doesn't just treat us well for a little while and then send us out to make it on our own; instead, He receives us and makes us His beloved bride. We are His forever.
We no longer need to allow our fearful, guilty thoughts to keep us in bondage because of our mistakes and failings; instead we now have the inner assurance of acceptance and adoption that allows us to cry out, Abba, Father! We are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters, forever forgiven, forever loved, forever belonging.
Oh the epic forgiveness of these words: "I won't send away anyone who comes to Me."
© Live at the Well
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Live at the Well.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Kelly Mowrer. © Live at the Well.
"I won't send away anyone who comes to Me." John 6:37 (CEB)
There is no time limit set on this promise. Jesus doesn't simply say "I won't send away anyone the first time they come to Me." He says, "I won't send away anyone who comes to Me." The original language reads, "I will not, not cast out," or "I will never, never cast out." The text means that Christ will not at first reject a believer, and He will never reject a believer.
But what if I sin after coming?
"If you do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one." 1 John 2:1
But what if I slide back into harmful habits? What if I sin repeatedly?
"I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for My anger has turned from them." Hosea 14:4
But what if the temptation feels so strong I'm afraid I won't be able to resist it?
"God is faithful. He won't allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it." I Corinthians 10:13
Even when believers fall into sin as David did, they can trust that God hears as they pray the prayer of David, "Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Psalms 51:7
And God answers each of our fearful, guilt-ridden hearts with the promise "I will cleanse them of all the wrongdoing they committed against Me, and I will forgive them for all of their guilt and rebellion." Jeremiah 33:8
"Once in Christ, in Christ for ever,
Nothing from His love can sever."
"My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from My hand." John 10:28
What can we say to this, even at our most fearful, lowest moments? It is mercy indeed that when we come to Christ, He doesn't just treat us well for a little while and then send us out to make it on our own; instead, He receives us and makes us His beloved bride. We are His forever.
We no longer need to allow our fearful, guilty thoughts to keep us in bondage because of our mistakes and failings; instead we now have the inner assurance of acceptance and adoption that allows us to cry out, Abba, Father! We are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters, forever forgiven, forever loved, forever belonging.
Oh the epic forgiveness of these words: "I won't send away anyone who comes to Me."
© Live at the Well
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Live at the Well.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Kelly Mowrer. © Live at the Well.