FORGIVEN AND FREE

“When you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13–14).

Read that again… slower this time. “He made you alive” … “forgave us all our trespasses” …

“He erased the certificate of debt.”

The great Apostle Paul admitted that he struggled with his fleshly nature. Maybe he fought against pride … anger … or worry. He wrote, “I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate …  For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do” (Romans 7:15–19).

Every born-again believer must agree. What we want to do, we sometimes fail to do. What we don’t want to do, we sometimes do. We don’t want to covet, but sometimes we covet. We want to be compassionate, but too often, we fail.

Paul knew the good news. “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!” (Romans 8:1). Sin isn’t a ball and chain. We’re forgiven! At the cross, Jesus wiped the slate clean! Our debt has been paid. We’re forgiven and free!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).