Luke 7:48
As the minister came to the end of his message that Sunday morning, he said to the people, "If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, I can say to you that your sins are forgiven." On the way home, the man said to his wife, "I wish that I could believe what the minister said about our sins being forgiven. First of all, he doesn't know my sins. How can he say they are forgiven?" His wife replied, "He surely doesn't know our sins, but you left out the most important words. He said, "If you are a believer in Jesus Christ." Jesus can forgive all of our sins, because He died for them.
Jesus spoke to a woman who believed in Him. Her sins were many according to Jesus (Luke 7:47). He spoke directly to her, saying, "Your sins are forgiven." She could base her forgiveness upon the authority of the words of Jesus alone. Faith comes as we hear the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17). God forgives us by faith alone in Christ alone. Trusting His word is the very foundation of our faith. Here is a verse written to all believers in Jesus Christ: "Your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake" (1 John 2:12).
Do you believe that your sins are forgiven? There is only one who can forgive us, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We receive His forgiveness through faith. That faith is based upon His death at the cross for all our sins. That faith receives blessed assurance through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. It's not believing in what we have done. To the contrary, it's believing in what Christ has done. Believe and receive. Then, and only then, "your sins are forgiven."
Prayer: God, we receive the forgiveness of all our sins in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
