Forgiven and Free

Today we're going to reflect together on a message of hope and liberation offered to us by the Word of God: we are forgiven and free through Jesus Christ. This message is based on a powerful passage from the Bible, taken from the Gospel according to John. You're probably familiar with John 3:16, the famous verse in which God tells us that he so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Just after this verse, John 3:17 sheds more light on what this means.
This is what the verse says:
"For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17)
This passage reminds us that God's great gift, offered through Jesus Christ, is available to all who believe in him as the way to salvation. Jesus did not come to condemn the world because of sin, but to save it. And that changes everything for us!
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A God who saves, not condemns

Sometimes it's easy to feel guilty or unworthy of God's love. Maybe you've already said to yourself, "I've made so many mistakes, how could God possibly love me?" But the good news is that God doesn't look at us with eyes of condemnation. On the contrary, His love is unconditional. No matter who you are or what you've done, you're loved by God.
God didn't send Jesus to accuse us or make us feel crushed by our past. His goal is not to fill us with guilt or make our lives more difficult. No, his intention is to offer us the very best: his grace, his peace, and a living relationship with him.
God proved his immense love for us by sending Jesus Christ to earth. Through his perfect life, his death on the cross and his resurrection, Jesus gave us what we didn't deserve: forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. It's a free gift, offered out of love, to free us from the weight of condemnation.
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The Light of Jesus illuminates the darkness

The Bible also teaches us that Jesus exposes the darkness of this world:
"And this judgment is that when light came into the world, men preferred darkness to light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)
This means that Jesus, who is the light, reveals what is wrong in our hearts and in the world around us. He brings our bad choices and sins to light, not to condemn us, but to transform us and show us a better way.
We all have a choice: to follow the ways of this world, which lead to condemnation and death, or to follow Jesus, who leads us to eternal life. If we remain attached to the darkness, we distance ourselves from the light of God. But if we believe in Jesus and choose to follow him, we are invited to live a new life, filled with his peace and presence.
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Salvation, a New Life in Jesus

God doesn't just want us to avoid condemnation. He also wants us to live an abundant life, full of joy and hope, here and now. Jesus said in John 10:10:
"I have come that the sheep may have life, and have it to the full."
This means that our salvation is not just about eternal life after death, but also a complete transformation of our life on earth. When we choose to follow Jesus, he changes the way we think, our actions, even our relationships. We become children of God, filled with his love and light.
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You are Forgiven and Free

The central message of the Gospel is that we are no longer condemned. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, God erases your sins and frees you from the weight of guilt. You no longer need to wear the chains of shame or feel crushed by your past. You are forgiven and free!
In Romans 8:1, we read:
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
What an incredible promise! Jesus invites us to walk with him in this freedom. This means we don't have to fear judgment, because Jesus has already paid the price for our sins.
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Walking in the Light

To follow Jesus is to choose every day to walk in his light. It doesn't mean we'll be perfect or never have struggles, but it does mean we have a guide, a Savior, who walks with us.
Every day, take time to thank God for the extraordinary gift of eternal life he has freely given you. Be grateful for the freedom and forgiveness you have received in Jesus Christ.
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Let's remember that Jesus came to save us, not to condemn us. No matter our mistakes or weaknesses, we are loved by God. In him, we find forgiveness, freedom and eternal life.
So today, choose to walk in the light of Jesus. Abandon guilt, accept his forgiveness, and let his grace transform your life. You are no longer condemned.

You are forgiven and free.
Amen.

Pasteur Clémentine