3. God’s forgiving Mercy.
The
third integral part and significant aspect of God’s grace is His act of
forgiveness. The medium by which the love of God is demonstrated by forgiving
us of our sins, heals our diseases, redeems our life from destruction as
alluded to by the Psalmist David who wrote; “Praise the Lord O my soul; and
forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your
diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and
compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is
renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalms
103: 2-5).
Or as a popular hymn which says; “God sent His
Son they called Him Jesus, He came to love, heal and forgive, He lived and died
to buy my pardon an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.”
If
this aspect of God’s grace is not being realized one should question
him/herself and ask why? It is further stated in the scriptures saying; “If you
make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no
harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command
His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up
in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’
“You
will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the
serpent. ‘Because He loves Me’, says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will
protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me, and I will
answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation” (Psalm 91:9-16).
And
we have been given the assurance that, “God, who has called us into fellowship
with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful” (1Corinthians 1:9).
Therefore,
if for any reason a true believer in Christ is not reaping the benefits of this
aspect of God’s grace, it is simply because he/she does not have the faith and is
not partaking of the provisions provided, maybe not as often as he/she should,
or he/she is partaking of the provisions provided in an unworthy manner
because, we have been clearly admonished saying; “Whoever eats the bread or
drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning
against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before
he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks
without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself,
that is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen
asleep” (1Corinthians
11:27-30).
As
often or whenever one eats this bread, and drinks this cup which represents the
sacrificial body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he/she
proclaims or makes known publicly, thus fulfilling the purpose for which Christ
died, until He comes. Remember, the cup is the new covenant or agreement of
Christ’s blood for the remission of sins, without which there is no
forgiveness.
Now
let us take into consideration the opposite side of the equation, if many among
us are weak, sick and many have fallen asleep because of the improper discernment
of the Lord’s body, what will be the outcome of those who have the proper
discernment of the Lord’ body and is partaking of it in the proper manner? Will
it not result in strength, good health and longevity? Food for thought!
So again
I beg to ask the question, have we received this aspect of God's grace in vain?
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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