Turn from your own ways and believe the gospel, that you are reconciled to God because of Jesus' vicarious suffering on the cross.
You may think: "But not so fast and easy, there must surely be something God requires of me first? Would not God that I first become a good christian, that I become something entirely different than what I am now, that something really radical happens with me? Would not God that I only first have a true sorrow for my sin and have a true and living faith?".
The message of the gospel is not a message about what we do for God, but it is the message of what God has done for us.
The law does not require that you do your best, but that you keep all the commandments perfectly. If you do not keep the law, you are a law violator - how honest, sincere and zealous you would ever be in your quest! The law requires, as said, that you keep all of the commandments without exception perfectly - not that you try your best.
Jesus kept the law in your place, that's why He is a perfect High Priest, a worthy sacrifice to God, that's why the Bible teaches that we can be certain of our salvation. The words "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" has God not said that you may be unsure of your salvation. These words are directed against the carnal man, the man who begins to rely on his own piety, his own ambition, his own ability. These words serve their purpose. But if you're wondering how to find peace with God and assurance of forgiveness, then you should listen to the gospel, not the law.
The gospel (or "good news") proclaims not merely a half salvation, not a salvation that makes you half-happy. It's really good news! It is the wonderful news: "You are redeemed. You are forgiven. God expects you not your sin, Jesus has paid for it."
The gospel message is not "Do this, so it is good for you". The gospel message is "This has God done for you." Sure, the Bible teaches in many places "do this" and "do not do this", but this is not the gospel message. This is the law (which would show on your sin).
Jesus was not sent to the world to condemn it, but to save it. Repent and believe the Gospel! The gospel says: "Jesus sacrificed himself for you. He took your place in punishment." You'll be redeemed. God redeemed His people. God sent His Son to a faithless and wicked world, so that through Him it might have life. By faith in this wonderful message you receive the free gift of God's forgiveness, mercy and salvation. By unbelief, which includes trusting your own works and piety rather than God's finished work, not submitting to the righteousness of God, you go out on it.
The gospel has nothing to do with your feelings or thoughts. The gospel message is God's word of mercy to you. The gospel is about Jesus and His deeds, not about your quest. Repent and believe the gospel!
When conscience condemn you and you think that God has turned away from you and are not happy with you - even then you shall believe the gospel! Conscience and feelings can become accustomed to an inaccurate image of the angry cruel god who does not want to give men something for free and for nothing, a God who takes charge, but the gospel shows that the senses and conscience are wrong.
You're thinking "But I have to regret it - I have to regret it properly first." Yes, we humans need to repent, but it is not God who thinks "You must have a true repentance first. Then you will believe yourself to be forgiven." Yes, we are all in need of repentance. Those who think they are not sick do not want a doctor. That is why there are so many self righteous people who strive and strive throughout all of their lives, but still never embrace the gospel words of forgiveness. They need to hear the law. Because they do not understand what they really need. But you, who know that you are a sinner and wish to find peace with God, you can believe the Gospel!
The gospel message is not for a few elite believers, or for those who are "devout". The gospel shows God's piety, love and care, that God is merciful to the unworthy. He is not interested in what you may think would be your right preparation or condition. He transforms you and makes you his own by His own work all in all. He absolve you from sin, for nothing, because Jesus kept the law, suffered and died in your place.
So do not think that God only wants you to meet a certain level of faith, and when you have complied with this measure of faith, then the gospel is for you. No, my friend, the gospel comes to you without first checking up whether you are worthy. No one is worthy. The gospel tells you about the salvation of God. It is God who proclaim to you that you are forgiven. No preparation that you could ever imagine could make you earn this. No, passive and unworthy you will receive what God gives you. Do not look at yourself or other people and be blinded by them! Behold the Son of God, who chose to go to the cross to reconcile yourself with God.
Think of how severely the Lord Jesus once rebuked his disciple Peter, and said to him, "Get thee behind me, Satan!" Why did He say that? Because Peter had said: "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." Jesus wanted to complete His work. He wanted to die for our sins. He wanted to take God's wrath, judgement and punishment on Himself. He wanted to give the world a perfect salvation. He knew that this must be done through the cross. Your Savior went to the cross with such an eagerness and willingness to save you that He was angry with the very person He Himself had appointed, but who stood in His way.
In Jesus' suffering on the cross God found the solution to that which made us enemies to Him, in Jesus' death on the cross all sins was punished and all sins (except for the sin against the Holy Ghost) was forgiven, in one single stroke. Therefore, Jesus first said: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" - He experiences the punishment in His innermost - and then He says: "It is finished". "It is finished" - so that you can receive the glad tidings of faith.
Make sure that you are not blind to the many religious people and what they teach. You may take and keep your God given words of comfort. You may believe yourself to be reconciled to God. To believe this - and that there's no performance on your part, you are a passive recipient - that is to be born again. And in this truth you will live and die reconciled to God.
Have you repented once, but then sin again weighed you down and you will find no rest in God anymore? You may reconsider the gospel! The price is paid, sin forgiven - not just the sins that you in your conscience meant you come across, but also those who still may want to be there and frighten you. Salvation is completed! No sin was forgotten! Jesus did not die for nothing. He wants you to believe and accept what God gives freely and for nothing.
He does not want you just to believe the forgiveness for one day or one year in your youth, or at the start of your walk with God, because then you will live at the "mercy" of your own power and ability. God wants you to live by His grace every day and keep it for real. This is how good fruit will be produced in your life. Jesus taught His disciples to pray "Forgive us our debts" in the same prayer as we pray "Give us today our daily bread." Every day is this forgiveness valid for us! Each day you will confess your sin before God and believe in the forgiveness that you have through Jesus Christ.
You may think: "But not so fast and easy, there must surely be something God requires of me first? Would not God that I first become a good christian, that I become something entirely different than what I am now, that something really radical happens with me? Would not God that I only first have a true sorrow for my sin and have a true and living faith?".
The message of the gospel is not a message about what we do for God, but it is the message of what God has done for us.
The law does not require that you do your best, but that you keep all the commandments perfectly. If you do not keep the law, you are a law violator - how honest, sincere and zealous you would ever be in your quest! The law requires, as said, that you keep all of the commandments without exception perfectly - not that you try your best.
Jesus kept the law in your place, that's why He is a perfect High Priest, a worthy sacrifice to God, that's why the Bible teaches that we can be certain of our salvation. The words "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" has God not said that you may be unsure of your salvation. These words are directed against the carnal man, the man who begins to rely on his own piety, his own ambition, his own ability. These words serve their purpose. But if you're wondering how to find peace with God and assurance of forgiveness, then you should listen to the gospel, not the law.
The gospel (or "good news") proclaims not merely a half salvation, not a salvation that makes you half-happy. It's really good news! It is the wonderful news: "You are redeemed. You are forgiven. God expects you not your sin, Jesus has paid for it."
The gospel message is not "Do this, so it is good for you". The gospel message is "This has God done for you." Sure, the Bible teaches in many places "do this" and "do not do this", but this is not the gospel message. This is the law (which would show on your sin).
Jesus was not sent to the world to condemn it, but to save it. Repent and believe the Gospel! The gospel says: "Jesus sacrificed himself for you. He took your place in punishment." You'll be redeemed. God redeemed His people. God sent His Son to a faithless and wicked world, so that through Him it might have life. By faith in this wonderful message you receive the free gift of God's forgiveness, mercy and salvation. By unbelief, which includes trusting your own works and piety rather than God's finished work, not submitting to the righteousness of God, you go out on it.
The gospel has nothing to do with your feelings or thoughts. The gospel message is God's word of mercy to you. The gospel is about Jesus and His deeds, not about your quest. Repent and believe the gospel!
When conscience condemn you and you think that God has turned away from you and are not happy with you - even then you shall believe the gospel! Conscience and feelings can become accustomed to an inaccurate image of the angry cruel god who does not want to give men something for free and for nothing, a God who takes charge, but the gospel shows that the senses and conscience are wrong.
You're thinking "But I have to regret it - I have to regret it properly first." Yes, we humans need to repent, but it is not God who thinks "You must have a true repentance first. Then you will believe yourself to be forgiven." Yes, we are all in need of repentance. Those who think they are not sick do not want a doctor. That is why there are so many self righteous people who strive and strive throughout all of their lives, but still never embrace the gospel words of forgiveness. They need to hear the law. Because they do not understand what they really need. But you, who know that you are a sinner and wish to find peace with God, you can believe the Gospel!
The gospel message is not for a few elite believers, or for those who are "devout". The gospel shows God's piety, love and care, that God is merciful to the unworthy. He is not interested in what you may think would be your right preparation or condition. He transforms you and makes you his own by His own work all in all. He absolve you from sin, for nothing, because Jesus kept the law, suffered and died in your place.
So do not think that God only wants you to meet a certain level of faith, and when you have complied with this measure of faith, then the gospel is for you. No, my friend, the gospel comes to you without first checking up whether you are worthy. No one is worthy. The gospel tells you about the salvation of God. It is God who proclaim to you that you are forgiven. No preparation that you could ever imagine could make you earn this. No, passive and unworthy you will receive what God gives you. Do not look at yourself or other people and be blinded by them! Behold the Son of God, who chose to go to the cross to reconcile yourself with God.
Think of how severely the Lord Jesus once rebuked his disciple Peter, and said to him, "Get thee behind me, Satan!" Why did He say that? Because Peter had said: "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." Jesus wanted to complete His work. He wanted to die for our sins. He wanted to take God's wrath, judgement and punishment on Himself. He wanted to give the world a perfect salvation. He knew that this must be done through the cross. Your Savior went to the cross with such an eagerness and willingness to save you that He was angry with the very person He Himself had appointed, but who stood in His way.
In Jesus' suffering on the cross God found the solution to that which made us enemies to Him, in Jesus' death on the cross all sins was punished and all sins (except for the sin against the Holy Ghost) was forgiven, in one single stroke. Therefore, Jesus first said: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" - He experiences the punishment in His innermost - and then He says: "It is finished". "It is finished" - so that you can receive the glad tidings of faith.
Make sure that you are not blind to the many religious people and what they teach. You may take and keep your God given words of comfort. You may believe yourself to be reconciled to God. To believe this - and that there's no performance on your part, you are a passive recipient - that is to be born again. And in this truth you will live and die reconciled to God.
Have you repented once, but then sin again weighed you down and you will find no rest in God anymore? You may reconsider the gospel! The price is paid, sin forgiven - not just the sins that you in your conscience meant you come across, but also those who still may want to be there and frighten you. Salvation is completed! No sin was forgotten! Jesus did not die for nothing. He wants you to believe and accept what God gives freely and for nothing.
He does not want you just to believe the forgiveness for one day or one year in your youth, or at the start of your walk with God, because then you will live at the "mercy" of your own power and ability. God wants you to live by His grace every day and keep it for real. This is how good fruit will be produced in your life. Jesus taught His disciples to pray "Forgive us our debts" in the same prayer as we pray "Give us today our daily bread." Every day is this forgiveness valid for us! Each day you will confess your sin before God and believe in the forgiveness that you have through Jesus Christ.
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