Experiencing God’s Love and Forgiveness, Part 1

Relationship and Fellowship with God
Your relationship with God is secure because, through Christ, you are forgiven and accepted by God.

In addition to providing this secure relationship, God also desires for you to walk closely with Him and communicate with Him throughout each day. This is called fellowship.

When we choose to sin, our relationship (our position as God’s children) is not affected, but our fellowship is interrupted.

Relationship with God:

Began when you
received Christ
(John 1:12)
Is everlasting
(1 Peter 1:3, 4)
Maintained by God
(John 10:27-29)
Never changes
(Hebrews 13:5)
Fellowship with God:

Began when you
received Christ
(Colossians 2:6)
Can be hindered
(Psalm 32:3-5)
Maintained in part by us
(1 John 1:9)
Changes when we sin
(Psalm 66:18)
How can you consistently experience fellowship with God?

Need for God’s Love and Forgiveness
Sin is a barrier for both Christians and non-Christians. Sin keeps us all from experiencing God’s love. But many people are confused by what sin is and what it is not.

What is sin? It’s more than cheating, lying, immoral behavior, etc. These actions are only the results of an attitude of sin. A simple definition of sin is: doing what we want instead of what God wants – both in actions and attitudes.

What are the results of sin? For non-Christians, sin prohibits a relationship with God (Romans 3:23). Unbelievers who try to live good, moral lives are still separated from God.  For Christians, sin inhibits fellowship with God. (1 John 1:6-8)

All of us sin. Therefore, you and I both need to experience God’s forgiveness for our attitudes and actions.

The Basis for God’s Love and Forgiveness
Christ’s death is the basis for forgiveness to bring us into a proper relationship with God. (1 Peter 3:18)

Christ’s death is also the basis for forgiveness in our daily fellowship with God. (Colossians 2:13, 14)

In the day when this was written, “list of sins” meant an itemized bond nailed to the prison cell door. It listed every crime for which the prisoner had been convicted. When the sentence was served or restitution paid, the authorities removed the list and wrote “paid in full.” The prisoner used this as proof that he could never be tried for those crimes again. The believer who trusts Christ’s payment for sin can never be tried again. You have full pardon from God.

What difference will it make in your daily life to know you are totally forgiven?

Assurance of Salvation

You can know you have a secure personal relationship with God.
You can be confident in your new relationship with Christ because you have been completely forgiven and accepted by God. Only Christ’s death on the cross is sufficient to provide this proper relationship with God.

Three important words in Ephesians 2:8-9 explain the basis of our acceptance before God.
GRACE: Unmerited favor, an underserved gift

You didn’t deserve this relationship nor did you earn it by any good works. Rather it is a free gift from God that you accepted when you received Christ.

SAVED: Rescued, spared from disaster

Romans 6:23 says that the final result of sin is death. When you received Christ’s death on the cross as a payment for your sins, you were rescued from eternal condemnation … from having to pay the penalty for your own sin.

FAITH: Belief, trust, commitment of mind, attitude, action

Simply put, faith is believing or trusting God and His Word. When you received Christ, you put your trust in Christ and His death for your sin. Instead of believing in your own ability to earn God’s favor, you now trust that you have been reconciled to God through what Christ has done for you.

Understanding truths about your new relationship with Christ
Christ forgave your sin. (Colossians 1:13, 14) When you trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, all your sins were forgiven … past, present, and future. What difference do you think it makes to know your sin is forgiven?

Christ made you a child of God. (John 1:12) When you received Christ, you began a loving relationship with God. Christ came into your life and He will never leave you.

Christ came into your life and He will never leave you. (Hebrews 13:5) Under what circumstances might Christ leave you? According to this, how many times it is necessary to receive Christ?

Christ gave you a new life. (2 Corinthians 5:17) When you trusted Christ to be your Savior and Lord, you began a new spiritual life. God will increasingly produce many new qualities in you as you grow in Him.

Christ gave you eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13) Eternal life is based on Jesus Christ. Eternal life for a person begins when he has Christ in his life. 

These wonderful benefits are based totally on Jesus Christ. None of them can be earned. You received them the moment you placed your faith in Christ.

Since you have …

trusted in Christ’s payment for your sin,
understood the basis of your new relationship with

God, and
looked at five truths about your new relationship

with God,
you can be confident in your new relationship with Christ.

Why don’t we always experience assurance in our personal relationship with God? What is one action you can take to begin to feel more assured?