THE SINNER TURNED SAINT (2)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*THE SINNER TURNED SAINT (2).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

1 Cor 15: 9-10 *For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.*

*But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

God forgave Paul. He lived a new life as if he had never sinned before.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

By the principle of justification, Paul, formerly Saul, was forgiven and justified before God, and he lived as if he had never committed a sin before.

Rom 5:1 says, *Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:*

Paul, like any other newly born child of God, was not only born again but also had the *....boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,*

*By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;* Heb 10:19-20.

Rom 5:2 says, *"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.*

By this principle, what we did that is considered too bad or that we often believe can not make us acceptable before God is considered not enough at all or had no base to keep us away from receiving Christ's free gift of forgiveness.

Our previous sinful acts can not prove us too wrong to forbid God's absolution for our sins.

Our reasons for doing what we did wrong or our way of behaving as such was considered acceptable (only to the Supreme God) and could provide no reason why He could not forgive.

Acts 17:30 explains this consideration of our past sins as incapable of preventing God's forgiveness, saying God considered them as the days of ignorance.

It says *And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:*

Christ foreshadowed justification on the platform of God's perceived ignorance of mankind when He said on the cross, *".....Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do....."*, Luke 23:34.

So rather than defend ourselves, so to say, God already advocates our forgiveness by reason of ignorance.

A strong condition for justification is only through faith in Jesus!

In judging the world in righteousness, justification was God's *".....given assurance.....",* to us all, Acts 17:31, who come to Him through Jesus. In other words, He promised that if we could come to Jesus by faith, our sins are forgiven, and we will no longer be under God's judgment. This He proved through *'......the Man whom He has ordained....by raising Him from the dead.”*, Acts 17:31 (NKJV).

This is best illustrated simply to assure us that mankind is restored to the likeness and character of God because of what Jesus has done, Rom 3:24 says, *"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:*

Today as was in the days of the early Church, justification is the platform evident in men and women who are able to do the supernatural, and we see them manifest in the likeness and character of God, though they were chief sinners.

You can live as if you have never sinned.

Make sure you are now a sinner who turned saint and never to sin again.

*Remorse corners.*

Jesus justified the woman caught in adultery. She could now live as if she had never committed adultery as long as she did not commit it again.

*Call to Word action.*

John 8:11 *She said, *"No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

When you are forgiven, justification tells you that you have peace with God. All of your obligations to God have been met. Nothing stands unaccounted for between you and God. Stay this way!

*Prayer*

Lord, help me to remain in peace with God. Let me not jeopardize peace with You, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and be blessed as you come into His presence today.

God bless you.