We all know shame personally as shame is a tool of education across generations and tribes – you do something wrong, we will shame you so you don’t do it again and it works culturally. Interestingly, it doesn’t work with God. God has never needed anything that minimizes who He created you to be as a tool of discipline – He can make it work for your good though.

The problem is that we come to God trying to redeem ourselves with some more “work for God”

  • If I can just serve in church more.
  • If I can just take on that project extra project for the motherless babies’ home.
  • If I can just give my offering and tithe more frequently.

All these things are great but they do not redeem you – the blood shed on the cross by Jesus does.

The forgiveness of sin is your inheritance; not languishing in pain, not living in shame, not trying to live in yesterday, not assuming everyone else is a sinner, not suppressing your pain, nothing is a substitute for the sacrifice at Calvary. THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN IS YOUR INHERITANCE!

The beautiful part of this verse is the last part as it flows into verse 8 – in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. God’s forgiveness isn’t in accordance with how you beg and roll on the floor, it isn’t in accordance with your diction and education, it isn’t in accordance with your personality and temperament, it isn’t in accordance with what your parents and leaders think you can never be, it isn’t even in accordance to what you think of yourself; it is in accordance with the riches of God’s grace which he has lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Maybe you lack wisdom on how to stop going back to your past because you won’t receive forgiveness. Maybe you lack understanding in life because you have not accepted that you have been forgiven and you can be forgiven and God is willing.

Matthew 8:2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Today, God is willing like He was yesterday and will be tomorrow. God is willing to forgive you for that crime. God is excited to snatch you out of that addiction. God will rally all the angels in heaven and Earth if that’s what it takes to get you out of that abuse you think is punishment for your choices. God is willing to teach you how to forgive yourself as he forgives you.

Why? You have been accepted in the beloved. Why? Hebrews 10: 26b there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.

No penance, no restitution, no punishment, no shaming, no flogging, and no death can outperform the sacrifice of Jesus. Because they can pay for what you have done but cannot bring you into who you can be.

Life begins with the acceptance of forgiveness. This is the inheritance you must never trade not even if your bed is in the belly of hell like David, the Psalmist mentioned. The reason you can be sure every inheritance is yours is that you know God has fully forgiven you and is not setting a trap for you in the future to “get you”.

Activity

Declare with me

  • I am loved.
  • I am forgiven.
  • Old things are passed away.
  • My new life is in Christ.
  • I receive the forgiveness in the blood.
  • I know God is willing, ready and moving toward me.
  • I am never alone.

Every time you feel like you cannot be forgiven, get the communion and break it in remembrance of the sacrifice that can never be outdated – YOU ARE FORGIVEN!