by Gail Cavanaugh

Created on: July 10, 2008   Last Updated: July 12, 2008

Being a Christian has its benefits over the plight of the unsaved man. Humans no longer have to walk around with a burden of guilt or remorse because of sinful acts. Having this burdened lifted from man gives him an opportunity to be of use to God. When we have thoughts or hear words of condemnation, we know where it is coming from and we know that it is not from the God we love and adore.

When the unsaved man commits an act of sin because he has built up a momentum on it, he feels guilt, depression, or anxiety, and does not know how to get relief from it. He is on a path of destruction and this may send him on a drinking or drugging binge or he may take it out on someone close to him. After years of suffering with this uncontrollable condition and not getting any relief, he may seek the services of a reputable psychiatrist who may prescribe drugs and /or send him for counseling. The psychiatrist may speak to him about his biochemistry or his inherited traits which caused his condition. At these sessions, he will talk incessantly about these conditions from which he is getting no relief. Some spend many years exploring the causes of these feelings and emotions and repeating the behavior until finally, one day someone approaches him about salvation.

After accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart, he suddenly feels a peace that he never knew because his past, present, and future sins are forgiven. If he is truly saved, the now saved man is able to stop the destructive behavior, with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, in an instant! If he decides to attend a Bible teaching church or a Bible study, he learns that our God and Father is a merciful God who will forgive him of all of his sins, if he will confess them. This truth gives the saved man peace and joy and he has a desire to share his new condition with others. He knows how powerful the Lord is and he knows his weaknesses.

God in his mercy does not condemn man but may convict him of his sinfulness. There is a difference. Satan condemns many by telling him he is worthless because of his sin. God convicts man of his sin by showing him his error while still loving him because the saved man is God's creation. God is merciful in all situations that man brings to God because God knows that man is imperfect and incapable of being good. What a relief this is!

Man is able to show mercy in certain cases on his own, but in some cases it is impossible for him to be merciful. This is when man must call upon God to enable him show mercy to others. This is the difference between God and man; God is always merciful because of his divinity and man is sometimes merciful because of his humanity. When God intervenes in man's ability to show mercy, man shows mercy where he previously could not. Then there is forgiveness and reconciliation.

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