Please help us share God's truths and hope in Christ.

My friend Rod RosenbMy friend Rod Rosenbladt told me a story about a middle-aged woman who needed help from her pastor.

She went to her pastor and said, “Pastor, I had an abortion a number of years ago?”

“OK,” the Pastor replied.

“Well, I need to talk to you about the man I’ve since married.”

“Alright,” replied the Pastor.

“Well, we met a while back, and started dating and I thought, I need to tell him about the abortion. But I just couldn’t. Then things got more serious between us and I thought, I need to tell him about the abortion. But I just couldn’t. A while later we got engaged and I thought, I need to tell him about the abortion. But I just couldn’t. Then we got married and I thought, I really need to tell him about the abortion. But I just couldn’t. So I needed to talk to someone, Pastor, and you’re it.”

The Pastor replied, “You know, we have a service for this. Let’s go through that together.” So they did a Service of Confession and Absolution.

When they were finished, she said to him, “Thank-you, Pastor. Now I think I have the courage to tell my new husband about my abortion.”

And the Pastor replied to her, “What abortion?”

The forgiveness God grants is full, free, and forever. Karl Menninger, the famed psychiatrist, once said that he could dismiss half of his patients immediately if he could simply assure them of forgiveness.

For some reason, we have come to believe that it is a mark of spiritual and emotional maturity to hang onto our guilt and shame. We’ve sadly concluded that the worse we feel, the better we are. The declaration of Psalm 103:12 has been the most difficult for me to grasp and embrace; “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” And Hebrews 8:12 has been equally unbelievable; “For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.”

In other words, the sins I don’t forget, God doesn’t remember.

If you struggle with guilt and shame (like I do), then all of this seems too good to be true.

For me, the reason it seems too good to be true is that I continue to experience the very real and far-reaching consequences of my sin. And I have often made the fatal mistake of confusing those consequences with God’s condemnation.

What I’ve discovered is that when I am in the throes of consequences from the foolish and destructive things I have done, my only hope is to throw myself on the forgiving mercy of Jesus, remembering that…

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

In fact, the kind of suffering that comes from the consequences of sin is like a brushfire that burns away every thread of hope we have in ourselves and leaves only the thread of divine grace and forgiveness.

What seems too good to be true is actually the most comforting, hope-giving, renewing truth in the world. Regardless of what you have done or failed to do, what you are guilty of or how miserably you have failed, you are right now under the completely sufficient imputed righteousness of Jesus. You are, in other words, clothed in an irremovable robe of forgiveness. Your pardon is full and final. There are no strings attached. No ifs, ands, or buts. No conditions.

The good news is that—before God—you are forgiven. You are clean. It is finished. Your “sin is cast into the sea of God’s forgotten memory.”

As the old hymn puts it: “Well may the accuser roar, of sins that I have done; I know them all and thousands more, my God he knoweth none.”

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***A Hidden Message in Psalm 23?***  

Hidden in the six verses of Psalm 23 are 11 names for Jesus.  When you subscribe to our newsletter, we’ll send you The Names of God in Psalm 23 PDF that reveals all 11 names and Scripture verses of comfort and hope (link will be sent in your confirmation email).

A Room with a View of Eternity—The Last Will & Testament of Jesus Christ   Take a seat at the Master's table. Learn about the riches He gives to all who are His. This book will bless and encourage you, give you hope, and help you live in the joy of your salvation and the riches of Christ that are yours.

The Top Ten Got Questions? in 2023 

  1. The Meaning of NUMBERS in the Bible?
  2. Was Jesus CRUCIFIED on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?
  3. How was Jesus Like a Worm? What’s the CRIMSON (OR SCARLET) WORM in Psalm 22?
  4. How are the Shepherd’s ROD and STAFF Different?
  5. How long did JOB SUFFER?
  6. What is the Significance of the Wise Men's THREE GIFTS? And were they kings?
  7. Did The Wise Men Arrive 12 DAYS AFTER JESUS’ BIRTH? Or Was It Much Later?
  8. Jesus’ Last Days TIMELINE: the Cross and the Resurrection
  9. The Meaning of COLORS in the Bible?
  10. Did Jesus Fight Satan to Take Back the KEYS of Death and Hell?

There is much to be learned from those who have gone before us in the faith.  Check out our Cloud of Witnesses category that features the words of departed saints who are now with the Lord in glory.  Their words equip and encourage us even to this day.  Take a few minutes to hear...

  1. ONLY ONE LIFE, Twill Soon Be Past – by C.T. Studd (1860 – 1931)
  2. “The Love of God is Greater Far” by Frederick M. Lehman (1917)
  3. Prayers from Billy Graham
  4. Who Was Robert Robinson? What’s the Story Behind “Come Thou Fount”
  5. “Immanuel” — A Poem by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
  6. Who Am I? A Poem by Deitrich Bonhoeffer (1905-1945)
  7. Understanding the Everlasting Arms of God, by J.R. Miller (1840–1912)
  8. 24 Reasons Why I Love America, by John Wayne (1907-1979)
  9. Give Me Perpetual Broken-heartedness (from The Valley of Vision)
  10. Abide with Me, by James Smith, 1859

This remains one of our most popular pages viewed.

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TOP TEN Videos from Reasons for Hope* Jesus
  1. Memorial Day BAGPIPES TRIBUTE: Amazing Grace 
  2. RISE AND SHINE and Give God the Glory, Glory!
  3. WERE YOU THERE When They Crucified My Lord?
  4. PAUL HARVEY: THE BIRDCAGE
  5. PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: A SOLDIER'S PLEDGE
  6. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing -- CHARLIE BROWN Christmas
  7. JOHN WAYNE ~ WHY I LOVE AMERICA
  8. Jimmy Stewart - Nativity Scene Prayer: Mr. Krueger's Christmas
  9. THE LEGEND OF THE CANDY CANE - A Christmas Story to Share 
  10. Not by Might, Not by Power, But BY MY SPIRIT says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6)

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