The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross.
Our sins have been put away. To use the language of the Scriptures...they are completely removed, put behind God's back, blotted out, remembered no more, and hurled into the depths of the sea.
Topics: Forgiveness Source: The Gospel for Real Life, p. 69.
We tend to drag up our old sins, that we tend to live under a vague sense of guilt...we are not nearly as vigorous in appropriating God's forgiveness as He is in extending it. Consequently, instead of living in the sunshine of God's forgiveness through Christ, we tend to live under an overcast sky of guilt most of the time.
Topics: Forgiveness Source: The Gospel for Real Life, p. 67.
Both gentleness and meekness are born of power, not weakness. There is a pseudo-gentleness that is effeminate, and there is a pseudo-meekness that is cowardly. But a Christian is to be gentle and meek because those are Godlike virtues... We should never be afraid, therefore, that the gentleness of the Spirit means weakness of character. It takes strength, God's strength, to be truly gentle.
Topics: Gentleness, Meekness Source: The Practice of Godliness, p. 181-182.
Gentleness is an active trait, describing the manner in which we should treat others. Meekness is a passive trait, describing the proper Christian response when others mistreat us.
God is completely sovereign. God is infinite in wisdom. God is perfect in love. God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.
God is sovereign over people. He will move their hearts to cause them to do His will, or He will restrain them from doing anything contrary to His will. But it is His will, His agenda for our lives, that God will guard, protect, and advance. We must learn to live by His agenda if we are to trust Him.
Topics: God, The Heart Source: Trusting God, 1988, p. 71.
If God is not sovereign in the decisions and actions of other people as they affect us, then there is a whole major area of our lives where we cannot trust God; where we are left, so to speak, to fend for ourselves.
Godliness is a devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to Him.
Topics: Godliness Source: The Practice of Godliness, p. 16.
Godlike character is both the fruit of the Spirit as He works within us and the result of our personal efforts. We are both totally dependent upon His working within us and totally responsible for our own character development. This is an apparent contradiction to our either-or type of thinking, but it is a truth taught over and over in the Scriptures.
Godliness is closely akin to holiness in Scripture. Strong's Concordance lists holiness as a synonym for godliness. Vine says godliness is "that piety which is characterized by a Godward attitude; and does that which is well pleasing to Him" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
Topics: Godliness, Holiness Source: The Pursuit of Holiness, p. 105.
Godliness is more than Christian character. It covers the totality of the Christian life and provides the foundation upon which Christian character is built.
The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross.