Date:
August 7, 2024Sola Feda, Sola Gracia
While Martin Luther was teaching Galatians and Romans he came across this revelation: sola feda, sola gracia—by faith alone because of grace alone, in Christ alone there can be forgiveness of sins.
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Forgiveness
The word forgiveness draws various reactions. If we’re talking about God’s forgiveness of us, it can be a soothing topic resulting in gratitude and peace. If we need to seek forgiveness from someone we’ve wronged, we might wrangle a bit with our pride before we finally approach that person in humility—but our resulting cleared conscience makes it well worth the effort.
Usually, however, the most uncomfortable kind of forgiveness is what we must extend to someone who has wronged us or hurt us deeply. The Bible says a lot about this kind of forgiveness—perhaps because our emotions arm wrestle with it and other lingering memories skirmish with it. It’s really hard to do.
Find out what God’s Word says about forgiveness, how essential it is to understand, and how to actually do it...if we want to grow in our walk with God.
A Pattern for Marriage
In the unpredictable journey of marriage, Scripture is the map that points us in the right direction and keeps us on track.
Thoughts About Anger
Anger is a God-given emotion and it’s not necessarily sinful. The Bible acknowledges that anger needs safeguards and teaches us how to control it.
Grace-Based Salvation
If salvation was based on works we’d never know when our good works outweighed our bad works. And we’d never know when we were good enough. We’re saved by grace, and there’s nothing we can do to earn God’s favour. That’s why it’s a gift.
Four Ways to Avoid Feeling Offended
Chuck Swindoll has four suggestions to help us avoid feeling offended and they’re all rooted in the same concept. By shifting our perspective from horizontal (focusing on ourselves) to the vertical (focusing on God) we also avoid bitterness.
Dealing With Sin
God doesn’t expect us to live perfect lives, but He does expect obedience. This means when wrong comes our way we deal with it.
“Father, Forgive Them” Praying for Our Enemies with the Heart of Christ
Humanly speaking, the natural thing for Jesus to have done was pray for God’s rescue. He had His Father’s ear. A two-second appeal would have put “thousands of angels” at His disposal (Matthew 26:53). Instead, He felt sorrow and had pity.
Judgment and Grace
When you have a tender heart and tough skin you forgive easily and are slow to take offence.
It's Finished
Just before Christ died on the cross he said, “It is finished!” His death covered over our sins completely. There is nothing left that needs to be finished by man.
Forgiven
First John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins....” Forgiveness is what the cross was all about.
