Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV) "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."
When we repent of our sins and give our lives to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He redeems us and liberates us from our sins through the work of the cross. As He was nailed to the cross, He took on our sins and everyone else's who will choose to accept Him and give all their lives, good and bad, in exchange for life through Him. We are cleansed of our sinful past in baptism, made forever dead to sin, and raised to eternal life in Christ, our holy Lord and Savior who conquered death, the grave, and sin. The work is complete; the victory is certain. That life starts immediately.
Jesus emphasized the significance of forgiveness in our Christian walk in His instruction to the disciples in the Lord's Model Prayer. We often extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us, yet we struggle to apply the same grace to ourselves. We allow the enemy to use condemning words to keep us in a cycle of self-condemnation despite Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to free us from this burden.
As if that weren't bad enough, we allow this negative pride to dismiss the shame and abuse that Jesus endured to cleanse us. Somehow, we place ourselves too far below to be worthy of the crimson blood He spilled to cleanse us. Is not every drop of His blood worthy and valuable? Did He not choose to do this for us, even in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me, yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42 (NIV).
As found in Galatians 3:13, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree…" When we gave our lives to Jesus, our Redeemer, the curse of our sin was broken. When we forgave others, we acted in the way Jesus acted toward us. He forgave us of our sins against others, which is ultimately against Him. Think about it. He FORGAVE US of our sins. If Jesus, our priest, prophet, and King, forgave us, on what grounds do we have a right to hold ourselves in unforgiveness? NONE!
Take this matter to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him if you have been holding onto unforgiveness, whether towards others or yourself. If the answer is yes, understand that you are trapped in a snare that Jesus has already overcome. He longs to set you free from this bondage and all other tactics of the enemy so that you can experience the fullness of life He has for you. He desires to restore you to the redeemed life He has already paid for. Let Him do that today!
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