Am I Really a Christian?Sample

All Our Sins Have Been Forgiven

A powerful reason we can have assurance of salvation is the fact that all our sins – past, present, and future – have already been paid for by Jesus. His forgiveness isn’t a future event we’re waiting for but something that’s already happened through His work on the cross. Paul makes it clear in Colossians 2:13 that all (not just some) of our sins have been forgiven – and that includes the sins we haven’t even committed yet. Perhaps you’ve wondered, ‘What if I commit a sin, and before I get a chance to confess it and repent, I die? Would I lose my salvation?’ Definitely not!

If all our sins – past, present, and future – have been forgiven, the profound implication is that we can’t lose our salvation. Of course, we’ll still feel remorseful when we sin – that’s appropriate – but we no longer need to continually ask God to forgive us every time we sin. Instead, we simply need to thank God for the forgiveness He has already given us, knowing His grace covers us fully. Again, believing our sins have been forgiven doesn’t mean there’s no value in confessing them. The act of confession helps us remember and acknowledge the forgiveness that’s already been given. Confession doesn’t change our status before God but helps us to realign our hearts with His and to maintain a healthy relationship with God and others. When I mess up, I don’t pray, ‘I’m so sorry, God! Please forgive me!’ Rather, I confess my sin and pray, ‘I’m so sorry, God! Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you that my sin doesn’t disqualify me from being your son. Please help me to do better.’

Because God is love, we can replace the world ‘love’ with ‘God’ in 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 (NIV): God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud. God does not dishonour others, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs. Paul also tells us there’s no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Jesus took upon Himself all the condemnation we had coming. There’s no need to live in fear, thinking we have to constantly earn God’s approval. He keeps no record of wrongs, and we’re not under His condemnation. In Romans 8:38–39, Paul goes on to list a host of extreme possibilities that might separate us from God’s love – concluding that none of them can. Implicitly, it means that not even we can separate ourselves from God’s love.

Take some time to give thanks to God for the wondrous truth that you can have complete assurance of salvation because all your sins – past, present, and future – have been forgiven through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. And then, get busy living! Knowing you’re forgiven, secure in Christ, and kept in God’s love, you get to live out your faith with confidence and peace.