God's Forgiveness Motivates Godly Living...
And Resolves inner Conflicts
By Maurice E. Wagner, Th.M.,Ph.D.

There is a question that requires an answer, but nobody seems to be asking the question. It is just this: When I feel guilty before God or man, how can I believe in myself that I could ever do anything good? Yet parents don’t seem to realize how they put their child in a “catch 22” when they scold and condemn their child for disobedience, often inflicting painful punishment, and then expect the child to come back smiling, perhaps asking, “Please tell me what can I do for you?” They are probably following the only model they had for parenting, their parents, who had parents who did the same thing.

Our God does not function that way. He deals with the disobedience in a very different way. He is sinless and holy. He is also just. He is love, merciful, and gracious. So He provided the punishment for our sin by giving His only begotten Son, whom He declared from heaven that He was well pleased, by letting the violence of mankind to abuse and crucify Jesus as a criminal for us – who knew no sin – as our sin offering. He raised Him from the dead so He could be our High Priest in heaven keeping us forgiven of our daily sins as we confess them to Him.

You see, God wanted His children to have a guilt-free mentality so that they could believe in Him and allow His Holy Spirit to lead them through circumstances that would mold them into the image of Christ and at the same time make them witnesses to those who need Christ as their Redeemer.

You will find these thirteen lessons full of practical insights that motivate a person to live godly in Christ Jesus.