209. When my sins condemn me and I am doubting, how can I be sure of my forgiveness and salvation?
I cannot and should not rely on myself in any way--my thoughts, feelings, words, or deeds.
A. Rather, I can be sure because God, who has promised the forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake, always keeps His promises.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things presnet nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.
B. I can be sure because Jesus has shed His precious, divine blood for my forgiveness and for the forgiveness of all sinners, a sacrifice of infinite worth, acceptable to God. There is nothing left for me to do or add: Jesus' blood has cleansed me from all my sins.
John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished," and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
1 Peter 1:18-19 You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Hebrews 10:12-14 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footsootl for His feet. For by a single offering He ahs perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
C. I can be sure because God tells me that I am His and my sins are forgiven as the Gospel is declared to me in the spoken Word, in Baptism, in the Absolution, and in the Lord's Supper. These words and promises of Christ are sure and certain, no matter how I feel or how badly I have fallen short of righteousness. This Gospel is more than simple information; it actually delivers to us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life inJesus.
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
John 20:22=23 When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
D. I can be sure because God assures me in Scripture that He has chosen me in Christ, out of pure grace, to inherit eternal life and that no one can snatch me out of His hand (election of grace).
John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God al lthings work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
"This teaching [election of grace] gives no one a cause either for despair or for a shameless, loose life. By this teaching, people are taught that they must seek eternal election in Christ and His Holy Gospel, as in the Book of Life. This excludes no penitent sinner, but beckons and calls all poor, heavy-laden and troubled sinners to repentance and the knowledge of their sins. It calls them to faith in Christ and promises the Holy Spirit for purification and renewal. It gives the most enduring consolation to all troubled, afflicted people, so that they know their salvation is not placed in thier own hands. ... But salvation is in God's gracious election, which He has revealed to us in Christ, out of whose hand no person shall snatch us (John 10:28; 2 Timothy 2:19)" (FC SD XI 43-49).
Eventual commentary
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