“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Jesus came to take away sin. Do you realize what that means? It means that God, through the blood of Jesus, has so completely done away with the power of sin that you, as a born-again believer, can live as if it never existed. You can step out from under its shadow once and for all.
Understand now, stepping out from under sin’s shadow doesn’t mean living a perfect life. You’re still going to miss it sometimes. There will be times when you stumble and fall into sin. (You don’t have to, but probably will!) But you have a promise from God, sworn in the blood of Jesus, that says when you confess that sin, He’s faithful and just to forgive you of it and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
You don’t have to live under the shadow of that sin for five seconds if you have sense enough to repent and receive God’s forgiveness.
“Oh, but Brother Copeland, I just feel so bad about it!” It doesn’t make any difference how you feel about it. Do it by faith. Learn to be quick to repent. Then stand up and laugh in the devil’s face.
I remember one time in particular when I was in that spot. I’d missed it something awful, and I was supposed to go preach that night. I felt so guilty that I just told the Lord I wasn’t going to go. “Lord, You’ll just have to get Yourself another preacher tonight because I’m not going over there to that service.”
Suddenly the Spirit spoke up inside me. Did you confess that sin before Me, Kenneth? “Yes, I did.” Do you account the blood by which you’re sanctified as an unholy thing? “Oh, dear God, no!” I answered.
That’s what you’re standing there doing, He said. I gave you My Word that when you confess your sin before Me, I would not only forgive you of it, but I’d cleanse you and cast it into a sea of forgetfulness. Now it’s not good taste for you to keep bringing it up.
I’m telling you, I dropped the matter right then and marched into that service and preached for two and a half hours on the forgiveness of God!
Don’t let feelings of guilt and unworthiness rob you of the power of Jesus’ blood. Repent and step out by faith from under the shadow of sin into the mighty light of God’s forgiveness today!
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-34
Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
They have seven ministry offices around the world: United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Ukraine and Latin America. Their God-given directive is to preach and teach the uncompromised WORD of God on every available voice, which is being accomplished through a variety of channels, including our Believer's Voice of Victory TV and radio broadcasts, podcast and magazine; Believers' Conventions, Victory Campaigns and Living Victory meetings; published books, website, and social media channels, to name a few.
With the expansion of technology, they have more work to do now than ever. They are determined to let the world know Jesus is LORD, and they are not slowing down anytime soon!