The Depths of God's Forgiveness Part IV

"Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

"Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Philippians 3: 4-6)

Paul had the "audacity" to declare his blameless state before assemblies which he preached to throughout his ministry:

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23: 1)

and later

"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." (Acts 24:16)

In both verses, before significant assemblies, Paul declares his cleared conscience, his right standing before all.

How else could he do this, but in that he trusted fully in the resurrection power and atonement of Christ's death on the Cross? He declares this in one of his epistles:

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3: 7-9)

He now has full confidence in the righteousness which comes by faith, Paul has now found himself "in Christ", a place of preeminent power and glory:

"And [God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 6-7)

This same Jesus, glorified and forever honored at the right hand of the Father, is also the same place where each of us who believe on Him are located!

No matter what we have done, no matter how deep our sin, no matter how dirty or vile our past, we can declare boldly that we have no offense with any man, because we have been forgiven of all our sins, we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, and we sit in glory and honor in Christ at the right hand of the Father:

"Because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

Christ is under no condemnation; neither are we. Christ is neither despised for past wrongdoings, and neither are we.

And from this fullness, from this status of eternal forgiveness, we enjoy all other blessings!