Month: May 2020

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HEBREWS 8: 12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (KJV)

There is this popular understanding that God keeps record of every sin we commit. Some people even say that there is a video recorder in heaven recording all our sins and it shall be replayed on a giant screen for us to see on the judgment day. Out of this erroneous belief, people believe every sin a man commits shall be shown to the whole world and every single sin shall be punished by God. To them God and the angels are busing recording sins and wrong doings of men in heaven.

The truth is that, in Christ, God does not keep record or remember sins. All sins have been forgiven and if they have been forgiven, what is the need to recall them? God says, He does not remember your sins anymore. It is paid for and you are free. There is no recorder of your sins by God. The sins you committed before and after you became born again and the sins you are yet to commit in the future have all been paid for by Christ.

However, the believer who continues in sinful lifestyle will not be effective or fruitful in the faith and this will affect the quality of his works of ministry which shall be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ. Let us avoid sin not because it is recorded but because it affects our walk of faith in Christ. We shall be judged for whatever work we did in Christ and not for our sins or conduct but our sins and conduct affect our walk of faith in Christ, therefore we must avoid sin as believers and put on good conducts.

I refuse to live a sinful lifestyle not because it is going to be recorded but because it will challenge my walk of faith which shall be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ.

2Corinthians 5: 17- 21,
Romans 8: 1- 2,
1Corinthians 3: 11- 15

ENLIGHTENMENT FOR TODAY BY APOSTLE GILBERT KARUZA

The believer has received the love of God; the life of Christ. He is justified by faith in Christ alone and not of works. All he has received in Christ is FREE.

Romans 4:6
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

There is a righteousness that God imputes, that God counts.

Romans 6:13
Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.

Where is the Righteousness of God revealed? In the gospel. How? By faith – Romans 1, 16- 17.

Romans 3:26
To declare, [I say,] at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

…That he might be just – In His declaration he is just.

In other words the only people he justified are those that believe. That is how he imputes his own righteousness.

Romans 8:10
And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness

What Righteousness? The Righteousness of God which is by Faith.

Romans 10:3
And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness

Recall that the righteousness of God which is by faith is revealed through the Gospel of His son.

Romans 3:21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

The word “Without” implies apart from the Law, that is, you will not find it in the law. That same word was used in Romans 3:28 as well.

Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:6
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works;

That is there’s no works in what he is saying.

Romans 7:8 For without the law sin was dead.

Romans 5:13
For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Sin wasn’t charged to anyone’s account. What was imputed at the time was righteousness through faith.

Romans 3:21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

By saying without the Law, he was referring to before and after the law was given. As a result, righteousness cannot be defined in the law.

Notice that the Gospel of God was promised by his prophets.

Romans 1:1-2
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures.

In other words, Righteousness has always been in the Gospels. It was seen either as a promise or as a fulfilment. Righteousness therefore, is a function of the gospel.

The Gospel which was first in a promissory note, was then fulfilled when Christ came. Hence, the promise was fulfilled. So the promise of the Gospel – Righteousness through Faith is received by believing in the gospel of his son. (Jesus)

Confession : I have received the love of God and the life of God. The love God has shown me is that I am justified by his faith and not of my works. I am a recipient of his grace. I am declared righteous on his own account.

ENLIGHTENMENT FOR TODAY BY APOSTLE GILBERT KARUZA

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Deuteronomy 30:11-15 Moses described the righteousness, which is of the law and the righteousness of the faith of Christ.

Romans 3:20 …By the works of the law nobody is justified in his sight.
Vs 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

You can’t be justified by God and by the law at the same time. This justification is free, it places no demands on the person in question.

Vs 26 To declare, [I say,] at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

God doesn’t justify works. He justifies faith, and this is not as an after thought.

Vs 30 Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and circumcision through faith.

Justification is only by faith. It’s the character of God that man is justified by faith.

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God

Trying to be justified by works is futility with God. He justifies the ungodly. Who called Abraham ungodly? Not God. He doesn’t find fault. It was the law that labeled him ungodly.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

This is the original plan, not an afterthought.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

He justifies by faith. It’s the law that lays a charge. Paul is making a distinction between the law and God.

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth.

So righteousness through the law cannot be the same as the righteousness of God.

God has never placed any demands on man to be perfect. It’s a wrong notion to say that God only brought justification when man didn’t meet the standards he set. It’s not true!

God has always been the provider of all that man needed and he provided ahead of time. To show his love, he leaves man with a choice to demonstrate faith or unbelief. The law justified by works while God justified by faith. Faith in Christ is therefore righteousness or right living with God.

Confession: I am not justified by my own works. I am justified by his own works. He demonstrated his love that I might be righteous. God never placed any demands on me, I am righteous only by his works and not mine.

ROMANS 5: 1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Many Christians live their lives every day in guilt and fear. They believe they are not righteous because they commit unconscious and conscious sins. As a result, they think they are not fully qualified for God’s protection and deliverance from trouble or not worthy of God’s blessings and favour. They have a high sense of inadequacy.

They are always asking God for forgiveness of their known and unknown sins. No matter how hard they try to live right, they always have something to be guilty about. God does not see us that way. God sees Christ in us not our sins. You stand 100% righteous and justified before God. Don’t be sin conscious, be Christ conscious. Be free from guilt and see Christ as your righteousness. Since you cannot qualify in your own efforts in relating to God, you need to relate to God on the merit of Christ and his finished work for you.

Whatever God will not deny Jesus of, He will not deny you also of. In Christ, you are justified, blameless and faultless. You are as holy and righteous as Christ Jesus, despite your known and unknown faults. Be free from guilt and fear and enjoy maximum rest in Christ.

I am justified before God because Christ is my righteousness.

Romans 8: 1– 2,
2Corinthians 5:21,
Acts 13: 38

The death of Jesus has granted me forgiveness of sins. It is not conditional because it is based on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Nothing is therefore required of me.

APOSTLE GILBERT KARUZA

The word “Forgiveness/remission” means “to send away your sin.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 and he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins”

In verses 40-41 we read of how that Jesus rose from the dead.

… Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Here is a notable difference from what was seen under the Old Covenant.

Acts 13:38 “Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins”.

Forgiveness of sins is preached.

Thus, for a man to receive forgiveness of sin under the new covenant, he will believe that message that is preached to him.

Acts 16:15 “And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour”.

That they may RECEIVE forgiveness of sin.

Forgiveness of sin is received by faith in the gospel.

Romans 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

The law will charge sin but faith does not impute sin. Faith in the gospel declares a man righteous.

2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation

God in Christ doesn’t impute sin.

Under the old covenant, what we see is a man taking steps of reconciliation towards God, offering sacrifices, praying but in the New Testament what we see is that God was the one who took steps of reconciling man.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins

Forgiveness of sins in the New Testament is tied to the blood of Jesus. Under the Old Testament they offered blood of bulls and goats.

The price paid – redemption – is the blood of Jesus.

Thus we see a difference between the two covenants.

Under the old covenant forgiveness of sin was conditional. It was a reward for what the man had done – prayer, offering, confession of sin.

Under the new covenant forgiveness is not conditional; it’s based on the death of Jesus.

This knowledge is so important because many still take examples from the 4 gospels and the Old Testament and use such to preach to people to be saved. All is predicated on the death of Jesus. A man believes in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and he receives forgiveness of sins.

WHY THE DIFFERENCE?
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Jesus spoke of a new covenant. It means the old is no longer in force or of any effect.

Hebrews 8:7 For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…Vs 13 In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away”.

Thus we see how remission of sins was going to be done under this new covenant – by the shedding of the blood of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

CONFESSION: The death of Jesus has granted me forgiveness of sins. It is not conditional because it is based on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Nothing is therefore required of me.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

So many people fail and suffer in life not because of what they don’t have but what they have that they did not take advantage of. We have righteousness not sin. Take advantage of righteousness. God made Jesus to be a nature of sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Yet so many Christians believe problem comes to them because of their sins.

It’s not because of sin but ignorance. The devil is crafty, cunning, he made people believe that they suffer because of their sins, but that’s not true. Jesus dealt with sin on the cross. He is the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. If sinners died and go to hell, it would be because of their sins but their ignorance and acceptance of what Jesus did for them.

It’s not much about sin as it is about ignorance. The dept of sin have long be paid for. The creditor has long forgot about it. Yet many still count themselves debtors. Suffering the agony of sin. Why? Ignorance.

God did not really call us primarily to do anything, but to know everything He has done for us. That knowledge propel us to be everything and do everything He desires. God doesn’t want us to be ignorant. Get knowledge; the right knowledge. Know the Word.

Jesus came to grant to us the forgiveness of sins. This is available in his blood.

Matthew 26:28
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Hence what we received at salvation is the forgiveness of sin

This truth is seen all over the epistles.

Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 1:14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Hebrews 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Thus anyone who believes in the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus has received forgiveness of sins.

Jesus also stands as the advocate of the sinning Christian based on his propitiation for our sins.

1st John 2:1-2
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Hence, sin will never separate us from the Father because Jesus has dealt with sin by his singular sacrifice forever.

Hebrews 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…

Vs 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God…

Vs 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Confession: Jesus has granted to me forgiveness of sins and I have it today. He is my advocate and propitiation. Sin will never stand between me and God.

The word “forgiveness” is an English word and thus used in routine human communication. Hence, it has become easier to adopt the meaning of the word in English lexicon whilst examining the subject of forgiveness from the Bible.

The believer must place premium on the credibility of the written word thereby allowing it interpret itself. There are a number of misconceptions surrounding the subject of forgiveness, which is the reason a good number have grown up to assume that there is a prayer we pray to God where He forgives us only when we pray. It will help our understanding when we find out why, how and when God forgives.

The word “forgiveness” from the original languages implies to send away and this will be explained progressively.

Observe that the subject of forgiveness is largely explained from the epistles; letters to the churches. These letters emphasize what the believer has in relation to “what God has wrought in Christ for us.”

This forms the basis for which the epistles focus more on terms of identification of the believer with Christ. Paul therefore wrote in his letter to the Church in Ephesus;

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Observe the phrase “spiritual blessings in heavenly places”, where according to the King James Version of the Bible, the word “places” is italicized. The implication is that the word “places” was imputed or added by the translators. In other words, we can render Ephesians 1:3 as “spiritual blessings in heavenly in Christ”.

The word spiritual was translated from a Greek word that implies things of, or that pertain to the spirit.

The word blessings was translated from a Greek word which does not imply anything material but rather implies “fine speaking” or “to speak well of”. The word “heavenly” was translated from a word that implies that which is not earthly or ephemeral.

Hence, Paul in proceeding verses identifies the blessings the believer has in Christ:

•Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

•Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

•Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

•Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

•Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

•Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

•Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Observe that forgiveness is taught in the past tense here (verse 7) and same goes with all that Paul writes about the believer.

Thus, from Ephesians 1, we see a common feature in what Paul explained to believers; making reference to a past tense act that was wrought in Christ. This explains who the believer is identified as today.

Hence, forgiveness is taught as a work of Grace that is, it comes undeserving and unconditionally and by the blood of Jesus.

This is the basis upon which the believer must understand the subject of forgiveness as seen in the light of the epistles.

CONFESSION:
I uphold the credibility of the written word; I reckon with what God has wrought in Christ for me!

For Further Study:
Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:9-14; Colossians 2:13; Romans 4:1-12; Hebrews 8:10-12

Forgiveness has already been made mine by being in Christ, therefore I have no single debt of sin to pay either by animal sacrifice or by confessions.

COLOSSIANS 2:13
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. (NIV)

Yes, you are a Christian and you did something terrible, you have asked God for forgiveness but the issue is, you don’t feel forgiven. Never think you are alone on this path; we have all been there before. You do not have to continue walking on the path where your feelings become your guide. As believers, we are not led by our feelings. Your feeling cannot be the barometer of God’s will concerning a particular issue you may be facing.

The word of God must be your guide and you must believe what the word says concerning your forgiveness in spite of how you still feel. God’s word does not need one’s way of feeling to make it true. Regardless of how you feel, God’s word says He is no longer counting your sins against you. He assures us by saying, in Christ, he forgave us All our sins. Its normal to feel bad when you do something wrong but how you feel does not change God’s unconditional love and forgiveness in Christ.

All our sins, and this include our past, present and future sins. The truth is, by being in Christ we have obtained eternal forgiveness. He paid all our debts by his death on the cross, nothing left to be paid. Just say thank you Father for my forgiveness in Christ.

Forgiveness has already been made mine by being in Christ, therefore I have no single debt of sin to pay either by animal sacrifice or by confessions.

Ephesians 1:7,
2Corinthians 5:18-19,
Ephesians 4:32

“🌍PEARLS OF GREAT PRICE DAILY DEVOTIONAL💦

ENLIGHTENMENT FOR TODAY BY APOSTLE GILBERT KARUZA

HEADING: LICENSE TO SIN?

ROMANS 5:20 The law was added so that trespasses might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. (NIV)

The grace message has received a lot of attack by people who themselves do not fully understand grace. They erroneously accuse those who preach grace as giving people license to sin simply because it tells the truth that all our sins, (past, present and future) are forgiven because of Christ sacrifice on the cross. This is true for those in Christ.

People who hear this think it is just too good to be true. They think when people get to know they have been forgiven of all their sins, that knowledge will give them license to sin more. But knowing about God’s abundant forgiveness does not give license to sin but makes people love God more for such great grace. Life in Christ is love relationship between man and God and not fear relationship between man and God.

Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more, means there is no sin that the grace of God cannot forgive. By virtue of Christ’s sacrifice, God now relates to man by grace, not by law because none of us, including those who accuse the grace message, can perfectly obey the law. We are all in need of God’s grace.

God’s grace does not only forgive me of all my sins. It also teaches me to say “No” to sin.

Titus 2:11-15,
Hebrews 10:1-18,
2Corinthians 5:18-21