2022_12_09 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading- Colossians 1 & 2
We had a lively discussion during the Bible Study/Prayer night recording, while discussing Colossians 1 & 2 this week. The poetry and depth of Paul’s writing show us the greatness and majesty of our loving God. For our Holy God to forgive our sins is astounding:
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:13-15
God forgave ALL our sins. Are there sins in your life that seem unforgiveable? Do you ask for God’s forgiveness again and again over something you feel guilty about? Have you allowed Jesus to wipe your slate clean, but failed to give him every dark corner? Sometimes it can feel like the right thing to continue to ask for forgiveness about a particular issue, with the impression that we our sins our too big for God to forgive. I’d like to suggest this is false humility at work deceiving us. It is an offense to God’s ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross when we don’t take Him at His word. It’s arrogant of us to think that we can earn our salvation when Jesus has already made the sacrifice.
The Message version says:
“All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.” Colossians 2: 11-15
And the ESV puts it like this:
“Having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14
Satan’s lie would be for us to believe we have to do something and suffer to earn our freedom. He would like us to live underneath our guilt. No longer must we live within that small story. If we repent of our sins, we are free from the burden of guilt they have caused. We are right with God because of His marvelous grace. God has a much bigger story for each of us.
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead