How can I have faith to know I’m forgiven?

QUESTION:

I struggle with the fact that God forgives. How can I have faith to know I’m forgiven?

ANSWER:

EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD IS BY FAITH. Why? Simply because we cannot see God, or touch Him, or feel Him. The only thing we have that makes God real is the Bible. If we believe that the words in the Bible are real, then God becomes real. It’s as simple as that! The key is to believe that the Bible is REALLY the words of God spoken to you. When you believe this, then God becomes real, and what He said becomes real.

So then, why do I say everything about God is by faith. It is because you have to believe what He says in His Word. Faith is easy if you truly trust the words in the Bible. You will personally experience your faith grow stronger when you get deeper and deeper into the Word. This is because the Word generates faith. In Romans 10:17 it says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”. Notice, faith comes (automatically), or is generated within you (automatically), when you get the Word into you through hearing it, studying it, reading it, singing it, etc…

Faith is not something you have to conjure up in your heart or mind. The source of faith comes from the Word. If you do not have the Word in you, faith is low and elusive. If you have the Word in you, your faith is full and tangible.

With this in mind, let's look at what the Bible says about forgiveness,

Col.2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Forgiveness is not a work we must do, it is a standard that God has set in place through the cross of Christ. Forgiveness is settled when you get saved by believing that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for you. When we trust this gospel message of Christ then we are eternally saved. Its done and dusted!! Notice the verse above says “having forgiven you”. This is past tense. The moment you trusted in Jesus for your salvation, your sins, (past, present, and future), were nailed to the cross. You are completely freed from guilt and condemnation. Why? Because the Bible says it. If God said it, that settles it.

Remember, faith is not a feeling or an emotion or something you have to work up to believe in your mind! No. It is simply accepting what the Word says. The Word is what God has spoken to us.