Mountain View Baptist Church, Wetumpka
In relation to a sinful woman who poured out a beautiful expression of love to Him (Luke 7:36–50), Jesus said in Luke 7:47, “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” What is the reason she loved much? The answer is because “her many sins have been forgiven.”
Do you know the difference between a general receipt and an itemized receipt? A general receipt simply has the total cost, the date and the store from which you purchased it. The itemized receipt, however, would not just have this general information on it, but it would also record the specific items purchased, along with their specific costs, line by line.
The general receipt is analogous to how we sometimes view our sins before God. If we take a general receipt view of God’s forgiveness for sins, then we’ll make general statements like, “Yes, God forgives sins,” or “Yes, God loves sinners.” However, in acknowledging and confessing our many sins, these statements are not specific enough.
Our love for God is directly proportional to our realization of Jesus’ forgiveness of our many sins. Instead of general statements, we should take the itemized receipt view and say, “God has forgiven my lust for that person,” or “God has forgiven my adultery with that person on that date,” or “God has forgiven my greed for that specific item.” The goal is to name, and therefore own, our sins specifically so as to better realize God’s great love and forgiveness for us.
Do you realize your many sins today? John 1:8–9 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Have you confessed your specific sins to God today? Forgiveness for your “many sins” is available today if you’ll confess them and trust in Jesus Christ to save you.
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