Through the years, I’ve met several people who claimed that they couldn’t stop thinking about their past sins – those decisions they made before accepting Christ as their Savior. One close friend suffered with self-depreciating thoughts for many years following her salvation. Although she believed God had cast her sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), she could not stop thinking about them and, consequently, felt undeserving of God’s love.

Many people can relate to this, and I believe it’s more common with folks like me, who became Christians as adults. We (usually) come to Christ with many more regrets than someone who was saved at an early age. But clinging on to our past sins grieves God’s heart. When we refuse to let go, we take a position that belong to God alone: We become judges.

Think about it: saying that what you have done is beyond forgiveness is the same as telling Jesus that His blood was not enough. It’s like believing that the blood of the perfect Lamb was not sufficient to spare us from the angel of death (Exodus 12:23). It’s saying that we must add our blood to the door posts.

[bctt tweet=”Saying that what you’ve done is beyond forgiveness is the same as telling Jesus that His blood was not enough. #Linkup #RechargeWednesday ” username=”PatHolbrook”]

One Table, Two Men: Restored Life and Eternal Damnation 

It was time for the Passover celebration. Jerusalem was buzzing with Jews from everywhere, ready to receive forgiveness and restoration. The upper room was quiet, Jesus Words echoing in the hearts of His close friends.

He said His time had come.

Peter’s heart was filled with grief. Judas’ was full of greed. The Savior gave Peter the terrifying news that he would deny him three times that very night. He then told His disciples that one of them would betray Him.

Judas knew he was the traitor. Peter, on the other hand, could not conceive in his heart that he would deny His best Friend, His Redeemer. Not long before, he had proclaimed Yeshua’s deity to all who could hear it (Matthew 16:13-17). He loved the Savior. Believed Him. Longed to follow Him. He had no intention of betraying the long awaited Messiah. And yet, as the rooster crowed at dawn, guilty filled his heart. Three times had he denied His Lord. All in one fateful night.

As we turn the pages of the Book, we see how their response to sin shaped each man’s destiny: Judas could not forgive himself. Although he had access to the same Throne of Grace, his guilt didn’t allow him to receive eternal life.

Peter, on the other hand, accepted Yahweh’s forgiveness, fully understanding that it was a matchless gift of Grace. Instead of allowing shame to deepen the roots of self-deprecation and defeat, he used his experience to tell others about God’s redeeming grace.

I imagine his overwhelming joy while writing his epistle, remembering  the Master’s forgiveness and grace: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24.

[bctt tweet=”Jesus carried our sins in His body so that we can use our past to testify of His amazing grace, not to condemn us. By His priceless wounds we are HEALED. Forgiven. Period. Linkup #RechargeWednesday” username=”PatHolbrook”]

So, what is it going to be?

It’s really up to us, you know?

Will we keep carrying the weight of the past, allowing the Accuser to fill our minds with thoughts of unworthiness and condemnation…

Or… Will we contemplate His stretched arms on the cross and choose to accept the vastness of His love and all-forgiving grace?

[bctt tweet=”Condemnation does not come from the cross. It comes from the one who did everything to prevent the cross. Linkup #RechargeWednesday” username=”PatHolbrook”]

If your past still haunts your thoughts, remember where these accusations come from. Will you trust what the Star Breather says about you… or will you trust satan, the fallen star?

Stop hanging your future on the Field of Blood, as Judas did. Instead, let’s boldly and joyfully follow Peter to Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth, telling others of God’s sin-erasing, chain-breaking grace.

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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP party is open! Self-condemnation does not come from the cross… and yet, many Christians struggle to fully accept God’s grace. Join us & share your blog!” username=”PatHolbrook”]

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