We often get into a headspace of thinking certain sins are unforgiveable or they change who a person is in their core. A sense of “there’s no going back” from that decision is formulated in our minds.
The truth is that this way of thinking is conditional. It’s a lie to who Jesus is and what He set out to do. The Pharisees couldn’t understand his motives when He sat at the same table with publicans and sinners in Luke 5: 29-32. Jesus explained to them that He came to heal the broken and bruised.
Think of the worst, filthiest, most grotesque sin imaginable. Perhaps for you it is lust, murder, or deceit. Gluttony, greed, envy, and pride may come to mind as you peruse the worst of the worst offenses to Christ, the most “unforgiveable” actions known to man.
All of these can be redeemed.
God is powerful enough to work in the hearts of men to guide them back to Him. He is wise enough to know which opportunities of redemption will have the strongest impact on the one who has gone astray.
And the greatest wonder of this is the truth that He wants to do so. He wants to welcome His children home. He wants to redeem those who have yet to come to Him.
Without resentment. Without judgement. Without reservations.
The individual must simply be willing to surrender and follow Him.
Any other way of thinking about this concept (thinking that grace isn’t big enough for certain sins) undermines the cross. If we think that one sin in particular is too big or a person is “too far gone,” we are deceptively illustrating the plan of salvation which is eternal life through Jesus’s righteousness, not our own. If we slip into the mindset of classifying a sin as being “too big for grace,” we are dangerously falling into a “works-faith” belief that is founded on the idea that we could somehow earn salvation by our actions. Ephesians 2: 8-9 is very clear that we aren’t saved by our own doing but through Grace, given freely, a gift.
Satan would love nothing more than for us to fall into this way of thinking: “I did _____ in my past so there’s no point in me going to God for help or even trying to get back into church. There’s no use in me serving the Lord because I am ‘damaged goods,’ and He wouldn’t want me anyway.”
LIES.
Jesus speaks grace upon grace to everything we have ever done, every negative thought, every impure action. He washes us clean with His goodness and purity and plants in us a desire to live a new life. He teaches us how to live and rest in Him. He gives us even more grace when we inevitably slip and fall in the future.
This truth of redemption was illustrated by Jesus in His parable of the prodigal son found in Luke 15: 11-32. A man had two sons, both given the same allotment of wealth. One of his sons stayed near home, served his father, and lived a righteous life. The other son strayed from home and what is right. He tasted of all the world could offer him to find it could not fill the hunger within. In his lowest moment, he realized his faults, returned to his father, and asked for forgiveness. On his way home, his father saw him from afar and ran to embrace his son. His father forgave him for his wrongdoing and blessed him immensely. His father was not resentful nor did he mention the mistakes his son made. He simply rejoiced in that his son had returned to him.
Jesus is ready to run to you. He will meet you in your brokenness with grace upon grace. Don’t believe the lies that you are too far gone. We can rest in knowing His grace will meet us in every moment in life with arms open wide, full of love and kindness.
More Than Rubies 