Attitude

 

Is God's Forgiveness Conditional

 REPENT ! ! !

Is God's forgiveness 

   conditioned on 

      our repentance? 

The moment BEFORE we repent, do They look towards us with fury, ready to destroy us should we not beg for forgiveness?

That's what I've always believed about God.

Or . . . do They see us as loved but lost sheep/coins, and They are willing to give everything, including Jesus’ very life, to rescue us from our darkness and distortion? 

Perhaps, They no longer count our sins against us, knowing that "sins" have their own consequences in our lives?

This is what Jesus seemed to show us about God, a reframe for me like it was for the first century religious leaders.

"God was in Christ, reconciling the whole world to Himself, NOT COUNTING men's sins against them." 2 Cor 5

The Prodigal Father also illustrates well that he wasn't holding the wayward son's sins against him, only longing for him to recognize his standing as a beloved son. In fact, he cut the son off in the middle of his rehearsed speech to hug him, welcome him, bless him and tell him about plans for the party. The son, hoping at best for servant status, found himself in the middle of LOVE's Wild Embrace.

It's God's kindness that leads us to change our mind about Them, and about ourselves.

When we finally come to trust Their Goodness, and rest inside Their Unconditional Love (with NO FEAR of Divine Punishment, I Jn 4), we might discover within us a sustaining, overcoming power over the deceptions leading us towards shame, insecurity, confusion and sin.

The Prodigal Father, Devan Jensen