"The Results of Forgiveness"

“The Results of Forgiveness”

 

“I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”        Acts 26:17-18

 

These Scriptures are a part of the Apostle Paul’s recounting his calling to the ministry of Christ, by the Lord Jesus Christ, who commissioned Paul to carry the GOOD NEWS to the Jewish people and primarily to the Gentiles.  These are the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ to Paul.

 

Jesus was sending Paul to both the Jews and the Gentiles, but his commission was primarily to the Gentile nations, because the biggest part of the Jewish people would not accept his message, but the Gentiles, for the most part, did accept it.  The Lord gave us a real CLEAR picture of the RESULTS of FORGIVENESS.  Let us look at the very FIRST thing He mentions:  To OPEN their EYES, you see an UNFORGIVEN, UNBELIEVER is SPIRITUALLY BLIND, which means they cannot SEE or UNDERSTAND the TRUE NATURE of GOD nor His Word.  They are SPIRITUALLY living in a SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.  So Paul must OPEN their eyes to the TRUE NATURE of God, and His LOVE for them.  This is IMPERATIVE for him, to be able to bring them from the DARKNESS of their SINFULNESS and into the LIGHT of God’s LOVE, which is exemplified by the REDEMPTIVE ACT of His SON, Jesus Christ.  This MUST BE DONE, before they can receive FORGIVENESS. 

 

When this is accomplished, then they can be RELEASED from the POWER of SATAN to GOD, and then they will receive FORGIVENESS of their sins.  The ULTIMATE RESULT of FORGIVENESS is; an INHERITANCE that is ETERNAL, and they will take their place among those who are SANCTIFIED or SET APART, by their FAITH in JESUS CHRIST.  So the RESULTS of FORGIVENESS are:  Receiving their SPIRITUAL SIGHT, BEING brought from the DARKNESS of their SINFUL LIFESTYLE to the LIGHT of GOD’S LOVE, and to BE SET FREE from the POWER of Satan to God.  Then to RECEIVE the INHERITANCE of an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL of its BLESSINGS.   Are you SPIRITUALLY BLIND, living in DARKNESS, under the POWER of SATAN, who will lead you STRAIGHT to HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then that is EXACTLY where you are HEADED.  However, God is giving you the opportunity NOW, to be brought out of your SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, and into SPIRITUAL SIGHT.  He wants to bring you out of the DARKNESS of your SINFULNESS and into the LIGHT of His LOVE, and to BE SET FREE from the POWER of Satan.  He wants you to have that SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  To do that you MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your SINS to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and experience the RESULTS of His FORGIVENESS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!