9. Thinking about Forgiveness and Restoration (salvation)

That is ‘Good News’, and that is what the word Gospel actually means. God not only undertakes to forgive and to pardon us, but He actually promises to forget our sins. They are gone! No more there! He makes us as pure as though we had never sinned. Our heavenly records are clean. Our names are recorded in the ‘Book of Life’ (see also Daniel 12:l; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:12,15; 21:27). That is the deciding factor which determines our entrance into God’s eternal glory. In short, we have been reconciled to God and are at peace with Him:

 

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ”. (2 Corinthians 5:18).

 

You will now understand why we Christians rely so much on Jesus. He is our only chance. Jesus himself said:

 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6).

 

Let us consider once more a question that has been asked repeatedly: “Why should anyone try to perform good deeds, when their sins will be forgiven anyway”. Well, we want to please our Father! It is out of gratitude for having saved us! Because:

 

“ . . . The love of Christ compels us”. (2 Corinthians 5:14).

 

Now you want to ask me, where are those Christians who are committed to live like this? You find them in every country and every society, in some more – in others less. Their numbers are not big and more often than not they are not in the limelight. But if you search for them, you will find them. But please take note again; they are not (yet) perfect. Perfection cannot be found on this side of the grave. But they will have a commitment that is already reflected in the Bible:

 

“Not that I have already obtained all this . . . But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal . . . for which God has called me” (Philippians. 3:12 – 14).

 

With sincere greetings, I am

 

Yours faithfully

theophilus-us