All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the
one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:37
The men in the fellowship I belong to were talking amongst ourselves as to how we'd like society to view our lives from the vantage point of the present, and not by our past...
one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:37
The men in the fellowship I belong to were talking amongst ourselves as to how we'd like society to view our lives from the vantage point of the present, and not by our past...
It is a common thing for those who have demonstrated great remorse for their crimes and have made their peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ, to express concern as to how people will see us now. As men who have fully renounced and forsaken criminal behavior, or as deceptive con men who are putting on a facade?
And when I was asked for my opinion, I said that some will believe that our repentance is genuine, and we have indeed changed for the better, while others will not. I think this is the reality. But I also reminded my brothers that the main thing is how God Himself has already accepted our repentance and has also granted us forgiveness for all our sins. And how we are loved by Him, as well.
As the Word of God declares in the Scriptures, "But God has demonstrated His own love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And the best-known verse in the entire Bible confirms this as well. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him (Jesus), shall not perish (in hell for all eternity), but will have the gift of eternal life" (which includes the forgiveness of all our sins and the privilege of living with the Lord Jesus for all eternity) - John 3:16.
I said that regardless of what some may think of us as convicted felons who are doing time in prison, what matters the most is how God sees us. "We need to see ourselves as He sees us. As men who have been redeemed through the blood of His Son, and have been fully forgiven for all our sins, including our crimes. And how this truth is more than enough to rejoice in."
The opinions of society, which people are certainly free to have, mean nothing when compared to what the Almighty has decreed by His words. The Lord knows those who are His, and this ends the matter.
D.B.
And when I was asked for my opinion, I said that some will believe that our repentance is genuine, and we have indeed changed for the better, while others will not. I think this is the reality. But I also reminded my brothers that the main thing is how God Himself has already accepted our repentance and has also granted us forgiveness for all our sins. And how we are loved by Him, as well.
As the Word of God declares in the Scriptures, "But God has demonstrated His own love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And the best-known verse in the entire Bible confirms this as well. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him (Jesus), shall not perish (in hell for all eternity), but will have the gift of eternal life" (which includes the forgiveness of all our sins and the privilege of living with the Lord Jesus for all eternity) - John 3:16.
I said that regardless of what some may think of us as convicted felons who are doing time in prison, what matters the most is how God sees us. "We need to see ourselves as He sees us. As men who have been redeemed through the blood of His Son, and have been fully forgiven for all our sins, including our crimes. And how this truth is more than enough to rejoice in."
The opinions of society, which people are certainly free to have, mean nothing when compared to what the Almighty has decreed by His words. The Lord knows those who are His, and this ends the matter.
D.B.
