Victim Forgives The Shark Who Attacked Her!

Lucy Mangum

Little Lucy Mangum of Durham, North Carolina, was boogie boarding on the beach of Ocracoke Island when she was attacked by a shark. I've done some boogie boarding myself in that general area. A black tip shark sunk his teeth into her calf muscles severely damaging muscle, tendons and an artery. The first question she asked her dad after the attack was "am I going to die?". She went on to ask her dad to say a prayer with her on the beach before the helicopter flew her to the hospital. She later told her dad that she "forgave" the shark because "He really didn't mean to do it". I read a story like that and I'm thankful that she survived and by all accounts will have no permanent damage. I'm also touched by the fact that she has a faith that reached out to God during this crisis.
This is another interesting story where the subject of "forgiveness" has captured our interest. I also see some metaphors and some examples of sin and sinners. I guess I would have to say that I disagree with Lucy's assessment of the shark, I think he did mean to do it. It was his nature to find something to eat and that is exactly what the shark thought he had found. He's a shark, "attacking" is what he does! That shark is a metaphorical example of everyone of us!  We're sinners, it's what we do. The reformers referred to our nature in terms like "totally depraved" and "desperately wicked". Whether you are comfortable with that assessment is not important to me because that is exactly what the Holy Bible says about us. The third chapter of Romans says that no one is good, no one seeks after God and all have sinned. It's what we do - we're sinners. The other metaphor that I see in this story is little Lucy herself. She metaphorically could represent God. You see Lucy extended unmerited and undeserved forgiveness to that cold blooded shark and that is exactly what God did for us.
This is what it says in Romans 5...
¹⁰For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
When we were vile enemies of God He made the move toward us and extended His mercy and forgiveness! Undeserved and unmerited...He forgave us and made us his friends!
I'm so glad that Lucy's boogie boarding didn't end in the loss of her life and I'm so glad that I have a Saviour who loves cold blooded sinners like me! Trust Jesus!

Huh? August 7th Was International Forgiveness Day?

You learn something new everyday and today I learned that August 7, 2011 was International Forgiveness Day and I totally missed the party. In fact, it turns out that this past Forgiveness Day was the 15th annual event of its kind. Where have I been? I found an article on a site called starpulse that talked about celebrities that we should forgive. Arnold Swarzenegger was on that list (good for them, it's been a tough year for Arnold). I even did some research on the official site of the International Forgiveness Alliance. Unfortunately, I never found any info on the most important forgiveness that anyone can receive...the forgiveness of Almighty God!
The apostle Paul mentions another one of those wonderful theological Bible words that has so much good info about forgiveness. Here it is...
ἀποκαταλλάσσω apokatallassō = "reconciled"

Colossians 1

21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

The word reconciled means to bring back to a state of harmony. You see it is sin, in this verse "wicked works", that made us an enemy of God and alienated us from a relationship with our Heavenly Father. How do we overcome our alienated state? How do we become friends with God and not remain enemies? The answer is given in the preceding verse...

20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

It is through the blood that Jesus shed on that cross 2000 years ago! We must believe that the blood that Jesus shed is sufficient payment for our sins and we must believe that the work of Christ is "enough" to make us friends with God and no longer enemies. Have you done that? I implore you to trust Jesus today as your Saviour!

In need of forgiveness?

The Urgency Of Forgiveness In These End Times

Forgiveness is the number one need and should be the number one priority of every single soul on this planet. This is especially true since it is apparent that we are living in the end times, the last days. Here is a vid I just made concerning the issue of forgiveness in these chaotic times. Share it!

Justification: The Crown Doctine Of Forgiveness

In 1919, G.H. Gerberding, gave this wonderful definition of justification, "Justification is an act of God, by which He accounts or adjudges a person righteous in His sight. It is not a change in the person's nature, but it is a change in his standing in the sight of God. Before justification he stands in the sight of God, guilty and condemned. Through justification he stands before God free from guilt and condemnation; he is acquitted, released, regarded and treated as if he had never been guilty or condemned. The justified person stands in the sight of God, as if he really had never  committed a sin and were perfectly innocent."
 Romans 3 contains these wonderful verses...

²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
 ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
 ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
 ²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
 ²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
 ²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
 ²⁷Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Notice what verse 24 says...justified freely. The word "freely" ,δωρεάν dōrean, means undeservedly. We never merit God's forgiveness. We do not deserve to be declared innocent in His sight. It is of grace through faith...by believing in the redemptive work of Christ. There it is again...the sole requirement to secure God's pardon is "faith". Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Do so today!

How "Not" To Be Forgiven Part 5: Walk An Aisle During An Altar Call

One of the techniques that is commonly employed in evangelical protestant churches that is used to "secure" decisions is called the "altar call". The origin of the altar call can be traced back to a preacher named Charles Finney. Finney asked people to "come forward" (down the aisle) and sit on the "anxious seat" or "mourner's bench". It was his feeling that sinners needed to be invited to do something in response to his sermons. It is my conviction that walking an aisle and responding to an altar call are just not a good idea and do not lead to forgiveness of sins.
The main reason that I would submit for that conviction is that it simply is not found in the Scriptures. On the day of Pentecost it tells us that 3000 souls were saved and there is no mention of an altar call. In fact, there is no mention of an altar call anywhere in the New Testament. The reason the 3000 souls were saved that day was because they "believed". That's the one requirement that keeps getting muddled in todays murky theology or lack of it! I recently sat under a preacher who actually said this toward the conclusion of his sermon..."we ask people to make a public decision and walk this aisle because Jesus died publicly". That was the sole reason that he gave for walking the aisle that morning! Incredible.
Now, you may have walked an aisle and responded during an altar call and very much be a forgiven person. But you are forgiven because you "believed" and no other reason. You are forgiven the moment you are convinced that what Jesus did on that cross 2000 years ago is sufficient payment for your sins. Trust Christ today!