Believing all is forgiven

I was cleaning up some files and found this quote that I had saved. It's by the pastor of a church in Colorado, The Sanctuary, Peter Hiett

So I’m convinced your deepest problem is not the cigarettes you smoke or the alcohol you drink in secret. It’s not the slander you speak and the gossip you cherish. It’s not the pornography you pleasure yourself with when no one’s looking. It’s not the baby you aborted; it’s not that you betrayed your brother, cheated on your bride, lied about the whole thing, and retaliated with murder [King Herod]. It’s not even that you slaughtered the Lamb and killed the Messiah. Your deepest problem is that somewhere deep down inside, you believe Jesus the Messiah rose from the dead just to kick your ass, when, in fact, He rose from the dead so you would believe all is forgiven. It is finished! Justice is accomplished. And the Father is pleading, “Come home, come home, come home!”


I feel this way sometimes. That I can't escape the very real human frailties I have. Waiting for the punishment and chastisement of Jesus. Waiting to get what I deserve.

It is forgiven, why do I hold onto it? Why do I want to live beat down and ashamed? Why do I continue to focus on what I have done wrong, even though it's forgiven? This was especially timely as I went way back in my past one night this weekend to the worst pit I ever lived in and revisited it. Dredged up the memories. Emotional flogging of sorts. So I went on a search of Scriptures about forgiveness. Mostly intending to forgive myself and "come home". I highlighted a few things that really stood out to me.

From the Amplified Bible

Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! Psalm 51: 2

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51: 10-12

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6: 14

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
1 John 1: 9

We are promised his forgiveness. And he keeps his promises.