To the editor:
Christ's love and forgiveness: Oh, what love that you laid down your life for the world to take away our sins and give us eternal life. The greatest reward, to be in your presence forever.
When we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make a liar and his word is not in us (1 John 1:9-10.) We, although, remember our sins, and the God of this world, the accuser, likes to remind us, but the blood of Christ covers our sins. This is the work of the cross.
Jesus forgives and throws our sins into the deepest part of the ocean (Micha 7:19.)
The enemy tries to remind us of our sins. Jesus spoke the parable of the seed and the wicked one who tries to take away what was sown in your heart (Matthew 13:8-30.)
Jesus is faithful, and said to forgive 70 times seven, meaning we are to forgive without limit -- for as he forgave us, we are to forgive others.
Peter denied Jesus three times -- how he must have come to his mind many times, but he knew Christ and the power of his great love and the cross.
Jesus paid it all. He laid down his life for the world, that through him only, we have eternal life and forgiveness.
Jesus is the intercessor to the father. When Peter asked to see the father, Jesus said, "When you see me, you see the father. I and the father are one." He also said, "Call no man on earth your father, for you have one father who is in heaven" (Matthew 23:8-10.) "All who come to me I will in no way cast them out" (John 6: 37-40.)
Read the gospels, the real letters, especially -- they will speak to your heart. He will give you understanding by his spirit and open your eyes to the truth and to see all that he has for you: "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe in me also" (John 14:1-3.) "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5.) "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33.) "I will be with you always, even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20.)
This is the promise: When you seek me with your whole heart, you will find me" (Jeremiah 29:13.) "I will write my words upon your heart and minds" (Hebrews 10:16.)
Maxine Schultz
Bloomingdale