By James Washington – They tell me that ignorance of the law is not supposed to be an excuse for breaking the law. So, if you ever find yourself in court, telling the judge you didn’t know there even was a law, that by itself, won’t get you off the hook.
Depending on the conviction of the presiding judge, however, it might get you a lighter sentence. I believe when it comes to your and my spiritual existence, Jesus represents the kind of forgiveness that occurs only in Family Court.
The more I read scripture, the more I understand the wonderful relationship we have with the Almighty and the extraordinary power of His love for you and me, as demonstrated by his relationship with His only son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It’s that blood thing that I’m referring to. If you would allow me to use two examples to illustrate my point, let me give for your review Christ on the cross and Simon Peter’s denial of Jesus as the cock crowed.
All of us know that Peter did in fact deny Jesus as predicted. We also know that Peter “wept bitterly” because of it.
Now one very good example of God’s great capacity to love His children is that this same Peter, once afraid and fearful for his own life, came to witness for the Lord with no fear about his new life whatsoever.
It was Peter who, when the day of Pentecost came and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, “spoke boldly and without fear of reprisal” about the blood-bought forgiveness of sins because Christ’s death made us eternal members of God’s family.
You see Jesus is our access point. He is our entrée, our court-appointed attorney, our intercessor to our Father, the ultimate Judge.
Peter acknowledges this when he says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
You see what the Holy Spirit did for Peter is what the Holy Spirit will do for you. The key is weeping bitterly. Peter had to first accept and acknowledge his shortcomings. He had to empty himself to make room for the Holy Spirit.
Those who recognize this and understand the premise, know firsthand and that they are truly family members and ignorance is but a poor excuse for ultimate acceptance by Christ as Lord.
In Luke 23:34, Jesus says “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” From the Master’s own lips, we know even His captors and persecutors were in line for forgiveness.
All anyone has to do is to sincerely plead ignorance, repent (weep bitterly) and turn to the Lord. Ain’t that something? Blood bought forgiveness and understand no one, particularly God, expects you to be perfect.
The expectation is that you’ll be righteous in your acceptance of Jesus and sincere in your repentance.
Remember, your court-appointed attorney has already won your case. But you do have to show up in court, listen and acknowledge that the charges are true.
Your Honor, yes, I denied Him. Yes, I committed the sin. Yes, I was wrong.
Guilty as charged will be the verdict. And as Jesus told the adulteress, “go and sin no more.” Talk about a Presidential pardon. He tells us that each and every day.
May you and I hear and obey. May you come to understand that the shedding of Christ’s blood made you His blood-bought brother, so to speak, and yes, God is your Father too. That means the court convenes in the living room.
What a blessing! In the meantime, may you never live in ignorance again.
And may God bless and keep you always
For more on the original article visit: https://www.dallasweekly.com/articles/spiritually-speaking-guilty-as-charged-free-to-go/
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