5-Feb-15

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Romans 4:7-8All Out Joy comes from All In Forgiveness and being cleared of sin! Forgiveness that God extends or we extend others can never happen without Jesus in our hearts and minds.Our body language in worshiping God, with arms flung open, gives an indicator to all who witness just how our relationship with Him is going!!!  Bowing, arms flung wide, praising with song, weeping, joyful, praying, loving others — all these and more are indicators of our relationship.Comparing Adam’s relationship with God, with his distrust, take things in his own hands, disobedience — indicates the lack of his relationship.  When there is no relationship with God, we consider ourselves above God and this leads to our condemnation.When we humbly accept God’s wonderful grace and his gracious gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we find joy unspeakable.  This free gift makes us right with God even unto life eternal.  How much does God loves us?  David Crowder’s lyrics make God’s love come alive for me!He is jealous for me,   Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.   When all of a sudden,I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,  And I realize just how beautiful You are,And how great Your affections are for me.  And oh, how He loves us, oh,  Oh, how He loves us.But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. Romans 5:15-16