Fully Persuaded

We are all in different stages of our journey and growth in the revelation of righteousness. We may mentally assent to the fact that Jesus’ death and resurrection put us in right standing with God, but we all are learning to continually walk out that reality in our day-to-day lives. In some areas, we may find ourselves fully persuaded of this truth. In others, we may need to consciously work on establishing this truth in our hearts. The only way we can completely rid ourselves of the feelings of guilt and condemnation that accompany our relationship with God is to become fully persuaded of what Christ accomplished for us on the cross.

Are you struggling with guilt or addiction? Do you have a financial or a relationship problem? Is there an area in your life where you feel that you’ve failed? Those may be clues that you may not be fully convinced that God loves and accepts you, is pleased with you, and that He desires good for your life—including intimate relationship with Him.

You have been made right before God. (Rom. 2:13)

But you may not consider yourself holy. (Heb. 10:10) A person who does not know they’ve been made holy will continue to act as if they are unholy. But when you are established in the fact that you are holy and right with God, you will start acting like it! The fruit of that understanding will spill out and show itself in every area of your life.

Does that mean you will never make another mistake or that you will never miss the mark and sin again? No. At some point or another, you will violate your conscience; you will hurt someone with your words or disappoint them with your actions. When that happens, seek forgiveness from the person you wronged and try to make it right so you can live at peace and keep your mistakes from becoming an issue in your relationship with them. (Rom. 12:17-21) But know that your mistake (your sin) will never become an issue between you and God. Jesus has taken care of that issue permanently! (Heb. 10:14) He has completely removed your sin and signed a covenant of peace between you and God!

For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion and mercy I will gather you [to Me] again. In a little burst of wrath I hid My face from you for a moment, but with age-enduring love and kindness I will have compassion and mercy on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. For this is like the days of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:7-10)

Your sin is not hiding and waiting for an opportune moment to revisit you and shout to God that you are “unclean.” It isn’t attached to your hip, hoping to trip you up whenever you aren’t looking so that you can’t enter God’s presence. It’s not even buried in your heart trying to dig its way out. Your sin has been removed!

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm103:11-12)

I am fully persuaded, and that’s good news, my friend!