Heidelberg Confession #58
What do you believe concerning the forgiveness of sins? I believe that God, because of Christ’s atonement, will never hold against me any of my sins nor my sinful nature which I need to struggle against my entire life. Rather in His Grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ to free me forever from judgment.
Kevin DeYoung –
If the Lord gives me another 30 years I will wake up a sixty-something year old and still be frustrated with myself. I can count on it. I will not be completely sanctified. I will still be struggling with my self-centeredness, impatience, and indifference to so much of God’s glory. And because of Christ’s blood, God will still not hold any of these sins against me.
This is not at excuse for laziness in the war against sin. But it is a call for perpetual joy and gratitude at the forgiveness that is mine through no work of my own.