Heart of the Gospel

Some time ago, a friend told me that she has a great aunt who won’t go to church anymore. She went through a terrible divorce and she feels she is no longer worthy to be in worship. Because she is unable to forgive herself, she is unable to believe God forgives her. 

I felt sad when I heard her story because forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel. The truth is, however, many of us have a hard time letting go of the past. So often, we beat ourselves up over past mistakes and failures.

The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote this prayer: “Hold not our sins up against us, but hold us up against our sins, so that the thought of You when it wakens in our soul, should not remind us of what we have committed, but of what You did forgive, not of how we went astray, but of how You did save us.”

In our worship services every week, we hear an assurance of pardon:

One: There is good news! God is forgiving and merciful.  
Many: We can start over; the old life has gone, and a new life has begun.  

One: Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.   
Many: Thanks be to God!

The Apostle Paul wrote, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God loves you and has forgiven you. May you forgive yourself.

Our prayer today is taken from the prayer of Manasseh – which is included in the Greek and Slavonic Bibles. Let us pray: O Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob… immeasurable and unsearchable is your promised mercy…And now I bend the knee of my heart, imploring you for your kindness. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who turn to you, and in me you will manifest your goodness. For unworthy as I may be, you will save me according to your great mercy, and I will praise you continually all the days of my life. Amen.