April 29
How to Be Forgiven
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.
—Revelation 3:20
How do you find the forgiveness of sin? First of all, you must recognize your dire need for it. Jesus Christ is not some wonderful additive you need to blend into your life so you can find happiness. He is much more than that. I am not denying that being a Christian will make you happier. I am saying happiness is essentially a fringe benefit. Happiness, peace, and joy are great things. But the bottom line is Jesus Christ, who can pardon you of your sin.
We are guilty people. Guilt is not a fun thing to experience. The only way to get rid of guilt is to get to the source of it. Guilt is the result of sin; and the only way to eliminate guilt and sin is by being forgiven—and only God can forgive you.
Maybe you could do something to earn God’s approval. No—there is nothing that you can do even on your best day to pay your debts. There is nothing you can do to settle the score. Forgiveness only comes through Jesus Christ, who went to the cross and died in your place.
Do you want to have your sin forgiven? Do you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven? Acknowledge your sin, repent of it, and then receive Christ into your life. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20). But only you can open that door to Jesus. Only you can ask Him to come inside. Only you can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.
Copyright © 2005 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.