Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs , a devotion by Keona J Tann

Mistakes, ugh, we’ve all made them. The thing that I find is that the enemy loves to remind us of the things we’ve done wrong. In the past reliving my most silly, stupid, embarrassing and awful moments would send me into a tailspin of condemnation, shame and deep regret. My failures and mistakes used to taunt me and leave me feeling worthless, but God recently revealed to me a powerful revelation: His love keeps no record of wrongs¹.

WOW! I wanted to understand more about that promise. God showed me how the price Jesus paid covered ALL of my sins, that when I repent and ask for forgiveness God wipes the slate clean and remembers my sin no more! That’s so awesome! But can it possibly be true?

 What was the price that Jesus paid?

1 Peter 2:24 and Galatians 3:13 unpack the answer for us:

“He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.”²

“Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS [crucified] ON A TREE (cross)”—”³

The price that Jesus paid was His own life!

But can God really forgive me?

There are some things we do in life, knowingly or innocently, that affect us deeply. We can even feel like we’ve done something so horribly wrong that God cannot possibly forgive us. But Jesus paid the price for ALL mistakes, errors, wrongdoings and sins. I love that the Bible contains people that we can relate to, let’s look at a couple of those interesting characters:

Simon Peter is described as Jesus’ closest companion. When Jesus states that Simon will have a new name: Peter, Jesus is calling him forth as a rock. Peter shows an amazing literal ‘getting-out-of-the-boat’ faith when He realises that Jesus is walking on water and calls out to join Him⁴. But Peter’s big test causes him to deny Jesus 3 times⁵. Now you can’t blame Peter for this, he was terrified as he had just witnessed Jesus being dragged away by the Temple guards (which usually didn’t end well), but Peter “wept bitterly”⁶ over his actions. I love how Peter is redeemed. It starts when the angel appears to the ladies in the empty tomb, they are told by the angel to go and tell the disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is risen and will meet them at Galilee⁷. As I thought about that I sensed that there was so much love and redemption behind those words, I wondered if the angel was pleading and saying: “please make sure Peter knows Christ is alive and loves him, please make sure Peter knows that all is forgiven”. Then the redemption process continues when Jesus gently forces a threefold declaration of Peter’s love in order to counteract Peter’s threefold denial⁸.

Ron Graham⁹ explains that:

• Jesus wanted Peter to affirm his love again in order to helpPeter feel confident as a true disciple of Christ.
• That by the time Jesus asked Peter the 3^rd time “do you love Me” Peter is described as being sorrowful, but it actually helped him to move on without the burden of guilt and regret. It helped prepare him for the task ahead.
• Then the command to “feed my sheep” was to remind Peter to nurture and feed Jesus’ followers.

Maybe it was those words “feed my sheep” combined with the boldness and power of the Holy Spirt that enabled Peter to preach a powerful sermon that added 3,000 followers in one day¹⁰!

There is no doubt that Peter finished his life well, he took hold of Christ’s redemption and was able to be a powerful witness. Peter’s story gives us hope that we too can embrace Christ’s redemption and help other followers.

The other person from the Bible that encourages me greatly is Paul.

Paul started out as Saul a Jew who lived in the city of Tarsus, a trade city on the Mediterranean, he was a Pharisee from a long line of Pharisees¹¹ and was a tentmaker¹². When Jesus came on the scene Saul was at the forefront of trying to stop the Christian movement. Saul is named as among those who “agreed completely”¹³ to the stoning of a Christian named Stephen. Saul was passionate about following Jewish laws and practices which fired up his relentless pursuit of eradicating the followers of Jesus, even asking to go to Damascus to find Christians to bind and bring back to Jerusalem because he was “eager to kill the Lord’s followers”¹⁴. But it was on his way that Saul had a powerful encounter where Jesus revealed Himself to Saul¹⁵. It was soon after that Saul became Paul whose letters have had an enormous influence on Christianity. Paul referred to himself as being “unskilled as a speaker” but not lacking in knowledge¹⁶ and how very grateful we are that he shared his knowledge with us.

Paul states that his life as a Christian wasn’t easy: he worked hard enduring many sleepless nights; numerous prison stays; faced death; endured 5 rounds of 39 lashes; survived 3 beatings with rods; a stoning; 3 shipwrecks; a night adrift at sea; faced dangers from rivers and robbers; survived dangers in the cities, deserts and seas; he found himself hungry and thirsty many times and shivering in the cold from lack of clothing. But despite all that his daily concern and most pressing burden was that for the churches¹⁷. Paul went from persecuting the Christian faith to becoming someone who established several churches in Asia Minor and at least three in Europe, including the church at Corinth.

I wonder how full of sorrow Paul was after his conversion. I can’t begin to imagine how deep Paul’s grief was when he reflected upon how he treated his brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe it was that reflection that prompted Paul to refer to himself as being the worst of sinners. But despite his many sins Paul explains that God had mercy upon him. Paul believed that God’s grace was extended to him so that Christ Jesus could use Paul as a prime example that Jesus has great patience with even the worst sinners. Paul urges us to look at his life and find hope that we can believe in Jesus and receive eternal life¹⁸. I think Paul’s life reveals that even the worst sinner can receive God’s mercy and grace, it is true that ALL who call upon the name of Jesus will be saved¹⁹.

NO longer a slave to sin

The Holy Spirit will convict us, that is prompt us about past mistakes, failings and sins in order to deal with them but once we’ve repented and asked for forgiveness then the matter is dealt with. Because when we repent and ask for forgiveness God wipes the slate clean and remembers our sin no more, God’s love keeps NO record of wrongs!

Knowing that Jesus has paid the price was a revelation that gave me so much freedom because when I was reminded of a past mistake or failure I could confidently declare: “Jesus paid the price! I’m NO longer a slave to sin and the Holy Spirit helps me to keep in step with Jesus’ ways!”

I share this with you as an encouragement. Dear friend, please take heart and know that Christ is alive and loves you so very much! NO matter what you’ve done Jesus is ready and willing to forgive you. This is your opportunity to let it go completely and utterly knowing that God will readily forgive a repentant heart and remember your sin no more!

 Prayer

Here is a prayer you can join me in praying:

God, I thank You for loving me so much that You sent Jesus to die for me. Precious Jesus I thank You for being a willing sacrifice, thank You for paying the price, and that I can take this moment to remember Your great sacrifice for me.

Lord Jesus You’ve rescued me from the curse pronounced by the law. When You hung on the cross You took upon Yourself the curse for my wrongdoings.

Jesus, You purchased my freedom! Thank you!³

Jesus You personally carried my sins in Your body on the cross, You willingly and lovingly offered Yourself as if on an altar of sacrifice. You did this so that I could die to sin, becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin, and live for righteousness.

Praise You Jesus that I can joyfully cry out: “by Jesus’ wounds we who believe have been healed!”²

Every single mistake, error and sin that I’ve made is paid for. I ask for forgiveness for my wrongdoings and I seal my past with the blood of Jesus. God declares that His love keeps no record of wrongs therefore I won’t allow fear, shame or condemnation to speak to me anymore.

I will embrace the new life Jesus has for me, the abundant life as I pursue righteousness and godly living. Holy Spirit I ask You to lead and guide me each and every step of the way.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.

Know that ALL is forgiven and God’s love remembers your sins NO more.

Many blessings, Keona

Notes:

1. see 1 Corinthians 13:5
2. 1 Peter 2:24 AMP and then part of the prayer is inspired by that verse
3. Galatians 3:13 AMP and then part of the prayer is inspired by that verse
4. see Matthew 14:22-33
5. see Luke 22:54-62
6. Matthew 26:75 NIV
7. see Mark 16:7
8. see John 21:15-17
9. https://www.simplybible.com/f75q-chach-feed-my-sheep.htm
10. see Acts 2:14-41

“Jesus’ Life-Changing Relationship with Simon Peter” by Chris Pain also helped me gain further insight into Peter.

11. see Acts 23:6
12. Paul lived and worked with Aquilla & Pricilla who were tentmakers (or leatherworkers) just as he was, see Acts 18.1-3
13. Acts 8:1 NLT. Also see Acts 7:58-8:1.
14. Acts 9:1 NLT
15. please read Acts 9
16. see 2 Corinthians 11:6
17. see 2 Corinthians 11:16 – 28
18. see 1 Timothy 1:15-16
19. see Romans 10:13

The following links also helped collate information about Paul:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Paul-the-Apostle/Mission

https://theologycurator.com/apostle-paul-brief-biography/

This also helped me: