I want to close this discussion with some amazing truth. Although moral sin can have a devastating effect on many aspects of our lives, restoration is not only possible, it is God’s number one priority,
When man brought sin into the world in the Garden of Eden, it broke fellowship between God and man. Man, in his shame, hid from God. However, God came looking for Adam and Eve and even though there were consequences with which to deal, God promised them the opportunity to be restored to a right relationship with him.
This was the promised hope of Jesus. We have already discussed the willingness of Jesus to forgive and restore so I won’t spend time here. But this is where we must focus if we are going to find restoration with others in this life. God’s forgiveness is complete and irrevocable. If I confess my sin, he WILL forgive my sin (1 John 1:9). With this truth as our foundation, our path to restoration with others becomes a smoother journey.
The steps we have explained over the last several weeks can seem daunting. I continually stressed that this could be a long process because the hurt experienced by those with whom we wish to be restored is deep. However, the end results are well worth the effort. A restored relationship based on true repentance can even be stronger in the end. Doctors tell us that a broken bone heals back with more strength than the original. But it still hurts and the time to heal is difficult.
As the process is followed, hang on to the promises of God. We have already mentioned the assurance of God’s total forgiveness. With that we have Acts 3:19, Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Romans 5:10, For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Colossians 1:20-22 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Space does not allow us to list all the promises of God on this topic. Let me close with this. If you are a part of Murray Church and are struggling with a moral failure and wish to take the journey of restoration, we would love to help you in the process. Please contact me (Pastor Mike) and we can discuss what would be most helpful for you. You are loved by our Lord and his Church.