The Bible is all about Jesus. The story of Jesus as Savior of the World frames the entire book from Genesis to Revelation. Inside the pages of the Bible, Jesus offers not just an invitation to be saved by Him, but to walk with Him and let Him be the Lord of our lives today. One of those invitations was very clearly given to a man named Peter.

You could argue that Peter is the only other fully formed character in the Gospels besides Jesus. He is listed first chronologically in any story that mentions disciples, and he is mentioned more than five times the number of any other disciple.

The story of forgiveness that Jesus offered Peter is the most personal and relational story of forgiveness in all of the Bible. While Jesus is the hero of the Bible, Peter serves a foil for Jesus. A foil is a supporting character whose part contrasts, highlights, and even exalts the qualities of the lead character. Just as Jesus reveals and represents God, Peter represents all who seek to follow Jesus.

The story of Peter and Jesus is significant for you and me, because much like Peter, we've been given a new name and identity in Jesus. And yet despite all that He's done for us, we still fall woefully short of God's expectation. If Jesus can forgive someone like Peter for what he did, He can forgive you too!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Every Scar tells a story. When you tell your story of how Jesus brought grace into your life, you end up bringing freedom to others. This is what the apostle John reminds us in Revelation 12:11: "They triumphed over Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
 

The "blood of the Lamb" is the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross. He is known as "The Lamb of God" all throughout the Bible. John reminds us that the power of our stories, rooted in THE story of Jesus, will bring ultimate freedom and victory over our enemy.

God has chosen you and filled you with His Spirit to make a difference in this world. In a world filled with division, unforgiveness, and bitterness, we are the forgiven sons and daughters of God, and we have the opportunity to bring freedom to others just as God has brought freedom to us.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

As great as it is to be freed from the consequences of our sin through the absolution of God, His forgiveness extends further than that. Many don't get to experience complete freedom because they stop at absolution. They know that they have been freed from the punishment of their sins and that they are good eternally with God, but many refuse to enter into the next freedom phase.

The freedom that God gives you is not only freedom from sin, but freedom to a life of purpose. God's freedom is greater than simply a pardon and release from punishment. He also wants to release you to be a world-changer working alongside Him.

At the same time that this declaration of innocence is happening, we are also fully restored. It's not that you get absolved, and then after a few years of "proving yourself" you are restore into the person God has called you to be. Absolution and restoration happen at the same time.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

What does it truly mean to be forgiven?

There are two common definitions of the word forgive:

     1. to cancel debt

     2. to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flw, or mistake.

When we receive total forgiveness of God, our debt is canceled and the Lord's righteous anger is gone. God's forgiveness is not either/or. It is both and.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

his year,during Lent, I am using Zach Zender's new book called the Forgiving Challenge. It is based on the Red Letter Challenge that we went through together a couple of years ago. If any of you are interested in getting this book, please let me know. I will be putting in an order soon.

Day 1

Zach says that sin is a small word that packs a mighty punch. In a culture where we have become addicted to being offended, one of the most offensive things you could say to someone is that they are a "sinner." We live in a world that likes to accept and affirm all decisions and choices, when in reality, every single one of us is a sinner.
 

Romans 3:10   There is no one righteous, not even one.

Romans 3:23  ...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Without first understanding and accepting that you are a sinner, you will never be free.

But what exactly is sin?  Sin means "to miss the mark." You cannot attain the perfect standard that God has set out for you. Even if you just miss a little bit, you still miss.

And yet, there's a twisted perception of reality that thinks if you just become better and wealthier, buy a better house, get a greater job, just keep improving, etc., then you will be happy and all will be well. But we know that even the very best version of ourselves will never be good enough for God and will never even fully satisfy us.

God loves you. Deeply. But He cares about who you are becoming too. Deeply. God loves you for who you are, but His freedom doesn't leave you just as you are.

Psalm 40:2  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

We have a God who brings freedom to our lives through His ultimate rescue. We have a God who is greater and bigger than sin. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, not only can your sin be defeated, but God can even take the worst parts of our story, even our sins, and use them for His glory.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

2 Corinthians 12:9  My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Though we hate to admit it, we all need help! On our own, we are lost, mired in evil thoughts and sinful actions. It is Christ who has loved, redeemed, and transformed us into the caring friends and loving neighbors we aspire to be! He alone makes us content and hope-full, in a very self-centered world. 

As recipients of all of God's love for us in Jesus we are now called to reflect his light and offer help to others by being Christ-sufficient instead of self-sufficient. How does he empower us to do this? Remember your baptism, read his Word daily, and pray for his direction and opportunities to serve others. Since God's undeserved love is sufficient, and his power is perfect, seek to act and react as Jesus did. Tell the Good News of everlasting life!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Leviticus 26:12  I will walk with you and be your God and you will be my people.

There are many roads in life. Sometimes we take the wrong road, so we try another. The only true road is God's road of forgiveness. The good news is that we walk the Jesus road. In Scripture we read, "The Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). St. Paul writes, "By grace you have been saved through faith... it is a gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

There are many roads in life. On the Jesus road, our Savior walks with us and daily forgives us. So how can we respond? St. Paul says, "Be kind... tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). Tuck this message in your pocket as you "hit the road," Go with God!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,