Living Forgiven
Embracing Forgiveness - Part 3
As we think on the indestructibility of the forgiveness of sins from God, we must also connect the dots to our daily life, to our discipleship with King Jesus.
Assurance of salvation, being forgiven by God, doesn’t lead us to careless, Christ-dishonoring lives. Just the opposite. Everyone who has been born again, united to Christ by faith, now wants to live by faith, walk with Jesus, and learn to walk upright with him. As John says later in 1 John:
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure…No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous” (1 John 3:2–3; 6–7).
Right now, we are God’s children. Imperfect. Tripping over ourselves and the world. But we are his kids and he loves us. He isn’t giving up on us—he has big plans for every single child in his Kingdom.
God’s vision for our lives isn’t just for each of us to be the best version of ourselves. That is embarrassingly small, unimpressive. The Father’s plan is for us to become fitting images of our big brother—to be like Jesus. His ways becoming our ways, his character becoming ours, his reflexes, impulses, and love becoming ours.
Until Jesus returns, or we meet him after death, we are slowly, inch by inch, day after day, making progress in holiness, godliness, Christlikeness. This incremental and not always obvious growth is a part of our spiritual life. The new spiritual heart we have as children of God is against sin. Flat-out. But this doesn’t mean we are perfect. Far from it. This is why we are invited/commanded to confess, repent, and keep growing and going with Christ.
Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Hebrews 6:12 emphasizes this point, “Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.” New Christians, adolescent Christians, or veteran Christians, none of us can kick back, let go and let God. We show up in the power of the Spirit, run the race, turn from sin, pursue holiness, day after day.
As Martin Luther pointed out, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Matthew 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Luther’s insight needs to be drawn out. He put his finger on a gospel reality—we are still going to sin, therefore, we need to be about repenting, which is to live forgiven. The presence of sin in our lives doesn’t call our salvation into question. But, if we are unwilling to confess sin, to turn from sin, and look to Christ for help, that’s a different story. No Christian should expect a sinless, perfect, everyday life—which is why we have Jesus. For us “sinner-saints,” we should expect a repenting life. The Christian life is a stumbling forward, upward, never-giving up, ever-learning journey with Christ toward Christ being formed in us.
Living forgiving means living free from unrighteousness and self-righteousness. (Galatians 5:1). It means responding to the hope of new life, as you sit in the aftermath of a sin you hate. Living forgiven looks like responding to the supernatural joy found in being uncondemnable in Christ (Romans 8:1). It means your reflexive dash to respond to the truth of the gospel gets faster and faster. Forgiveness-fueled Christians forgive others. No grudges. No vengeance. Forgiveness now flavors our lives.
Living from God’s forgiveness changes us internally and externally. It rewires. We are transformed. God’s grace is evident.
Fruit and Evidences of New Life
It’s not unusual to hear Christians talk about fruits of conversion or evidences of grace. These are good things to look for in the Christian life. But this can also plague the mind and heart of new Christians. What evidences can a new Christian look for? How do we know if there is enough? What should we look for? Let’s think about fruit and farms.
A new lemon tree, like Charlie Brown’s twig Christmas tree, three feet tall with leaves you can count in 6 seconds. A new tree can’t be judged against the mature, multi-decade tree that yields 500 pounds of lemons a year. While it’s not apples and oranges, it is an unfair and unwise comparison.
To the untrained eye, the new lemon tree doesn’t even look like a lemon tree. But it is. Yes, there aren’t any giant lemons yet, just a few sprouts, but this tree is alive. The lemon farmer understands this twig; the farmer knows the early stages of the lemon tree’s lifecycle and knows everything is on track. The fruit is on the way. He doesn’t expect this new lemon tree to look and yield fruit like his veteran trees. Not only is every tree different, but every season and lifecycle is different, too.
The same is true for our spiritual life.
There is a reason why the New Testament uses plants, fruit, and farming imagery for the Christian life—Jesus and the parable of the soils, the weeds, and the mustard seed (Matthew 13). Paul employed the imagery of a hard-working farmer (2 Timothy 2:6). Growth takes time. So, new Christian, be encouraged. You aren’t abnormal for feeling “behind.” You are right on track. Keep growing.
Human newborns and spiritual newborns are similar—they cry for their parent, they are hungry, they are messy, and need time, attention, and help. And that’s okay.
So, to the newer child of God, what are some signs of life, a pulse you can feel for in your spiritual life?
Like a little child, do you recognize your Father and call out to him in prayer? (Galatians 4:6)
Like a little child, are you hungry and thirsty for righteousness, Christlikeness, God’s glory? (Matthew 5:6)
Like a little child, do you desire the Spirit-written word of God like a newborn wants and needs milk? (1 Peter 2:2)
Like a little child, do you love your family members, fellow Christians? (1 John 3:14)
Like a little child, do you want to grow? (2 Peter 3:18)
These are signs of life, they may not be obvious to everyone, they may even be the tiniest, dangling fruit on the branch, but rejoice, you are alive in Christ. You are forgiven. You are growing into your big brother’s clothes, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
The early stages of the Christian life are like a young kid clumsily clomping around in his older brother’s sneakers, wearing his brother’s shirt—too baggy, dragging on the floor. None of these things fit right now but one day they will. That clumsy boy will grow into those sneakers, and he will sprint and jump and smile the whole time.
Christian, we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ, he is our wardrobe, and we are growing into him. Hang in there. Your sins are forgiven. Keep walking. Keep turning from sin. And get ready to run with him.