"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (Colossians 2: 13)
How do we have life and that more abundantly?
When we believe that all our sins -- all -- have been paid for.
It's that simple, and yet many of us are still not fully invested in the truth of the last phrase:
"Having forgiven you all trespasses".
If you think that you have to keep short accounts with God, then you are negating the truth of "having forgiven".
If you think that sins in your future are still putting your standing before God at risk, then you are once against denying the truth of what Jesus did at the Cross.
Let us return to the promise that our Savior made to the Israelites during His earthly ministry, and what He gives to us today:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
This life comes into us through His gift of righteousness:
"As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death." (Proverbs 11: 19)
"In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." (Proverbs 12: 28)
and
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1: 17)
and thus:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
When we understand that Jesus finished a perfect work, and forgave all our sins, we receive new life, His life:
"38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
and also
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
and finally
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)
When we understand the eternal action and consequence of Jesus' death and resurrection, we recognize that all our sins are forever paid for, and thus we are brought to life in Him.
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