More than 2000 years ago, God provided us with the greatest tool of power ever given to humanity—forgiveness. Through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, forgiveness was made possible. The sacrificial blood of Christ was given in payment for all our failures.
Forgiveness alone has the power to set you free from debilitating guilt, simmering resentments, and chronic anger. And it is a key to healing your wounds, closing doors to Satan, and freeing you from demonic oppression.
The power of forgiveness
If you have received forgiveness from God for your sins, or given someone else forgiveness, you know first-hand the lightness of spirit it has brought you. Some folks say it feels like a window opened, and the room filled with fresh air and light.
Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).
Psychologist Zeiders coined the term, “the resurrection effect,” to describe the restorative impact forgiveness has on his clients. He explains, “It powerfully lifts their souls to the experience of new psychological life.”
The Apostle Paul expresses the power of forgiveness on our lives like this: “those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).
We express this “resurrection effect” in the hymns we love to sing:
- Oh the blood of Jesus … it washes white as snow
- What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus
- Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the lamb
- There to my heart was the blood applied; glory to His name
- Would you be free from the burden of sin? … There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb
- There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains
Must avail ourselves of the blood of Christ
Christ provided a way for us to resolve the debts we cannot pay. We no longer need to damage our capacity to be at peace with others or our self because of a guilty conscience. Through forgiveness, we can be freed.
However we will not automatically benefit from the blood of Jesus, if we do not avail our self of it. If we do not take responsibility for our failures, stop blaming others, confess our sins, and receive forgiveness, we will reap in full, despite the mercy and grace God made available to us.
Just last week, the Holy Spirit brought something to my mind that still caused me to feel guilty after many years. I realized I needed to forgive myself for it (do what I teach), because the blood of Jesus is enough for my failure. Now as I go to this memory, I just smile—there is only peace in it.
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works (Hebrews 9:14).