Don’t take into account the sins of others.

Romans 4:8 "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” In today’s live to love scripture encouragement, we look at a second reference which Paul made to King David’s declaration in Ps. 32 regarding the man or woman to whom God credits righteousness. “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” The context indicates that Paul had in mind the time when a man stands before God to give an account of his life. Imagine the wonder, awe, gratitude, and outpouring of love from one whose sins are not taken into account at that moment—or any moment, for that matter. How blessed is that man or woman! The only way their sins are not taken into account is that God, in eternity, chose to take their sins into account when He crushed His own Son as payment for those sins and then credited His Son’s righteousness to their account. Do you believe that God has taken the certificate of debt you owe and ruled it as inadmissible evidence in your trial? Do you believe that the only evidence on record for you before God is the righteousness of Jesus Christ? And why is that true for you? You believe that the righteousness of Christ is credited to your account because of the love and righteousness of God. You trust in His character and His will. Why do you trust in Him? It is because of the faith He has given you to believe and trust. Why did He give you faith in Christ? Because He has loved you in Jesus from before the foundation of the world. Be amazed with me at such glorious grace and love. Paul described agape love in this way to the Corinthians in 13:5. [Love] “does not take into account a wrong suffered.” How blessed is the man whose sins are not taken into account. Are you taking into account anyone’s sins and allowing their sins to separate them from you? If so, it can only mean one thing: You don’t really understand His love for you. For if you did, you would gladly, repeatedly refuse to allow their sins to stand between you and them. You would bless them as you have been blessed. As we live to love with Jesus, let us bless people by not taking into account their sins. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com