Wrestling with Self Forgiveness (Part 3)
When we understand that we are a new creation in Christ, we can forgive ourselves. Christ has freed the Christian from the tyranny of sin. The identity of sin no longer applies. In Christ, all things are new. This is the force of 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Just because one has sinned does not mean that that is what one is. Christ does not casually destroy His new creation! If the Christian sins, Christ has made a way for him to be forgiven to maintain his novel status (1 John 1:7). Sin does not have dominion over the child of God (Romans 6:14). The Christian may come back to the deep wells of forgiveness as much as he needs to overcome the sin that is in his life (Matthew 18:22). In fact, that’s the whole point of forgiveness—the opportunity to try again.
This is not to say that the Christian could not return to a life of sin. Such would entail rejecting Christ (Hebrews 6:4-8). However, so long as one makes the effort to repent and confess his sin to God, his identity in Christ remains firm. The Christian need not be plagued by constant thoughts of insecurity. Christ’s identity is secure, and so is the Christian’s, provided he does not give up on Christ. Regardless of the number of times a person sins, when he turns to ask forgiveness, he is forgiven (Matthew 18:22). One may not, however, live impenitently. The person who struggles with his sin is forgiven; the one who sins without struggling against it is not. We must fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12) and struggle to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley