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Not Guilty!

April Pic9

//Craig W. Hagin

 

Jesus redeemed mankind from sin on the Cross of Calvary. When something is redeemed, it means it was bought or a debt was paid in full. Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem us. He willingly shed His blood to take care of our sin issue. His blood wiped away our debt of sin.

 

 

In God's Eyes, we were forgiven 2,000 years ago when Christ shed His blood on Golgotha’s Hill. Even before we were born again, God saw us as forgiven. It was when we made Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior that we took advantage of Christ’s redemption. That’s when we appropriated, or took possession of, what technically was already ours. 

Jesus not only paid the price for our salvation, He also bore stripes on His back and secured healing for us. We were healed 2,000 years ago. First Peter 2:24 says that it’s by the stripes of Jesus that we were healed. If we were healed on the Cross of Calvary, then we are healed today. However, even though healing is available to us today, many Christians are sick because they haven’t cashed in on what belongs to them.

Many benefits are included in our salvation package. Healing and escape from hell are just two of them. It’s up to each one of us to take hold of what has been given to us. Here’s one way to do that: See the benefits of salvation as a bunch of coupons Jesus gave us. Anytime we need anything, we just have to cash in one of the coupons.

For example, if we need healing, we receive it by opening our mouths and saying, “Jesus, I need to be healed. It’s by the stripes that You bore on Your back that I am healed. I receive what you bought for me over 2,000 years ago. I’m taking my healing today. Here’s my coupon.”

Ruled by Guilt

Some Christians get tripped up when they sin after they’ve been born again. Whether we like it or not, being born again does not keep us from sinning. Our spirit man has become a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). However, we still live in a body that has fleshly desires. A battle between our flesh and our spirit is fought every day. Both sides want to dominate. That’s why the Apostle Paul told us in First Corinthians 9:27 to keep under our bodies and bring them into subjection.

While most Christians don’t blatantly sin, we can easily be challenged in our love walk. It’s very easy for things to happen that just set us off. During those times, we have to put the flesh under and allow our spirit man to rule.

Our spirit man is full of the unconditional love of Christ, and God’s love loves everybody, no matter what. Anytime we lash out in a fleshly manner, we’ve let our flesh win at that moment.

When this happens, we need to remember our salvation coupons and cash in First John 1:9 by saying, “Father, I messed up, but You said that if I would confess my sin, You are
faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Here’s another coupon!” When we do this, we’re basically reminding ourselves that we’ve been redeemed.

After asking God to forgive them, some people still feel guilty. They think if they do something nice for somebody, donate to the local food bank, or do some kind of penance, they’ll stop feeling guilty. They don’t realize that they are trying to redeem themselves. They really don’t understand what redemption means. Instead of accepting God’s forgiveness, they are trying to do something so they feel better. But they don’t have to do that. They don’t have to hold up a sign, “Will work for redemption.” It’s not about what they do; it’s about what Jesus did.

Unfortunately, way too many Christians are walking around with guilt. They think that because they’ve messed up, they can never be what God wants them to be. They think that it’s three strikes and they’re out, but Jesus doesn’t count up our strikes. We can have 99 strikes against us and Jesus still loves us unconditionally.

Although we may “feel” better after doing something for somebody, we have to realize that feelings are emotions. And it’s not about feeling better; it’s about knowing that we’re forgiven. One definition for redemption is “atonement for guilt.” Jesus redeemed us from guilty feelings. So anytime we feel guilty for something we’ve already confessed and repented of, we just need to let go of it.

God loved us so much that He sent His Son to redeem us. We need to remember that through Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed, and we need to drop that guilty feeling. Instead of thinking about guilty feelings, we need to think about Jesus. Through His shed blood, we are “not guilty!”

 


Faith In Action

What Does ‘I’m Redeemed!’ Mean?

I am a new creature in Christ. Old things are passed away and all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17).
I am victorious in every situation I encounter, for no weapon formed against me shall prosper (1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 2:14; Isa. 54:17).
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).
I am an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me (Rom. 8:37).
I am healed by the stripes that Jesus bore on His back (Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
I am redeemed from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13).
I am filled with God’s peace, which passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7).
I am the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).
I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13–16).
I am not condemned, for there is no condemnation in Christ (Rom. 8:1).

>>Further reading
to learn more about the benefits you have in christ, go to www.khm.com/u3l9 and read the article “Knowing what belongs to us” by Kenneth e. hagin.