I have been forgiven. Now what?

By Anderson Rodrigues de Miranda

Everyone seeks meaning. To say the opposite is to despise one's own consciousness. Intuitively, no one accepts a purposeless life. However, the bridge between heart and mind must be crossed.

Absolute answers are often avoided in today's culture. Relativism was once found in some astute minds. It became a fundamental teaching in the academic sphere and now has become part of some Church's teachings all over the world. As a result, understanding of human limits is being lost.

This book reaffirms the need to live practically and consistently with what is believed to be the truth. As the American writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The greatest homage to truth is to use it".

If you are not a Christian, you are encouraged to learn more about the uniqueness of this worldview. If you are already a believer, you may need to be reminded of the most important Biblical truths. Even Christians can be ignorant of how much God wants to change us, as well as the dangers of not allowing Him to do so. The fact is, we need to change!

• Language: English
• Publisher: tredition
• Release date: Mar 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9783732387694

Book preview

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I thank God, who called me to write this book. His Holy Spirit gave me essential insights about every topic. Jesus is and will remain my great inspiration. His life is what brought me here. Because he lives, I also live (John 14:19).

God is my greatest teacher. I learned most of my English - I would say around 90% - by reading the Bible, praying, and helping in Church activities before coming to America.

Julie, I could not have found any other person to better proofread this book than you. Thank you for believing in this project, your work was invaluable. God put you on my path in an unpredictable way.

Special thanks to my beloved wife Barbara. She has indirectly helped me in many different ways. Her patience with me is fundamental. At first my daily readings and writings were strange to her, but now has become something so commonplace that whenever she finds me in an idle activity, she asks me why I am not doing one of those two. I love you, Barbara; you make my gray view of this world more colorful.

Foreword

The thief beside Jesus

There is a spectacular scene, which is one of my favorites, during one of the most significant events in history. It is undeniably the greatest depiction of mercy and, consequently, opportunity for mankind. The picture is this, Jesus crucified with two mean, both thieves, also crucified on each side of him. They were criminals. They had nothing to do with morality and good habits. Undoubtedly, since crucifixion was exclusively used to punish the worst kind of criminals, they were truly evil, receiving the due reward for their deeds.

Who could desire something good for these two men? The Bible does not specify, but I believe that no one went to that place because of them. No one was interested in seeing those miserable thieves hung there. People gathered to see Jesus dying. Some hoped to see God delivering him. Others, scorning and laughing, were pleased to see the one who claimed to be God dying alone.

Despite all evil of men - like yours and mine - Jesus was there in silence, suffering the punishment of all sin, being obedient to his Father. When one of the thieves started mocking Jesus, the other one reacted differently, asking for mercy. Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom (Luke 23:42).

The answer of Jesus to that thief touches my heart. He could have mentioned all the sins that man had committed before being there, hung on that rugged cross. He could have referenced the Ten Commandments, showing how far he walked from the living God. He could have done all of these things and would not have been wrong. He would just be telling the truth. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus was dying for people like that man. A terrible Sinner.

The answer of Jesus brought about hope, not only for that man but also for all generations to come. At the moment that man confessed his sins, saying, we are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve (Luke 23:41), and recognized Jesus as the sinless Lamb of God, saying, but this man has done nothing wrong (Luke 23:41), he was instantly justified. Following this, he recognized Jesus’ everlasting reign, saying "when you come into your Kingdom (Luke 23:42). Justification comes by faith. That man believed!

However, his earthly life came to an end right there. The question is, if he had survived and for some reason had been allowed to come down from the cross, would he have continued living the same life of the past? Would he not change after this life-changing encounter with Jesus?

The answer to the above question is to the book’s purpose.

Jesus called sinners, not to keep being sinners, but to be sons of God. In the Bible the demands of Jesus are clear. The act of continuously believing and constantly desiring transformation will bring us closer to him. Dr. M. E. Dodd declares, The conversion represents only five percent of Christian life. The ninety-five percent is in the dependence of a life with Christ. I am not saying that we can transform ourselves, but the willingness to be transformed comes from within us. We need to cooperate with God in this process of sanctification. It endures only for a while- our brief earthly life.

If we genuinely believe and do what he wants us to do, we will certainly hear the same affirmation that poor, yet so blessed man heard.

Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise! (Luke 23:43).

Introduction

Some questions need to be urgently answered.

Every human being seeks meaning. To say the contrary is to despise the very conscience of an individual. Even without being taught, there is an intrinsic and profound thought within each one’s mind. Sooner or later, people will realize the necessity for God. However, even after an encounter with God, some questions will still permeate the mind.

I have constantly heard the following questions: Since justification is by faith, only believing in Jesus is enough? However, what does it really mean to believe? Since it is not about deeds, it does not matter if our deeds are good or evil? Can I keep living in the same way after believing in Jesus?

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1, emphasis added).

Absolute answers are often avoided in today’s culture. Relativism was once found only in some astute minds. It ended up being a fundamental teaching in the academic sphere, and now has become part of some Church’s teachings all over the world. As a result, understanding of human limits was lost. An affirmation that something cannot be true, even if it is categorically confirmed in the Bible, has become common.

One can put the Bible aside when trying to find meaningful answers to his or her existence. I believe this endeavor to be exhausting and pointless. Without acknowledging that the fundamental problem of human beings has a defined name and is present within each and every person, no lasting changes will take place.

The first chapters of this book will help the reader understand the reality of the present world and why there are irreversible problems, which have only one realistic and logical solution.

Working with youth for some years and daily surrounded by questioners, I could perceive how much misunderstanding exists about the new life offered by God. This book was written with the purpose of clarifying the truth about this new life. There are relevant changes when you accept it.

I am not saying that we will not make mistakes, nor that we cannot, when we make mistakes, be forgiven. My intention is to explain why and how we should set our mind in the truth, trying to reach the perfection God set for us. This perfection is indeed his own perfect image, the son, Jesus the Christ. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). It is not about how perfect we are here on this earth, it is about our intention, something invisible but alive within our hearts. I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve (Jeremiah 17:10).

We are called to be sons and daughters of God. We are called to be holy. Are we willing to answer this calling, accepting the exigencies of Christ? It is about our response to God. It is about our willingness to accept the new life he bought for us on that cross.

The authentic godly life is something to be grasped by every new born Christian on this earth. Everyone, once coming to this earth, need to learn how to walk. A new life is a new walk - this time with Christ. This book explains that unquestionably, we will change. If we do not change, we have not been truly born again.

The fact is, we need to change!

One of the biggest problems is that some people do not know from what they have been saved, or even, what salvation means. As Thomas Watson, the esteemed preacher from the 17th century, said, Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet¹.

With a brief explanation about our life before forgiveness, the consciousness about the death and resurrection of ourselves (through Christ), the pages hereafter will contain a variety of Bible verses in the appropriate contexts. I hope and pray that God speaks to you through this book. He wants nothing more than a beloved holy family.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV, emphasis added).

1. Before forgiveness

1.1 What is the truth?

First of all, we need to be convinced about the necessity of changes within ourselves - which comprises our thoughts concerning life, desires, aspirations, perspectives, dreams and objectives - and the reality of the world in which we are living. In fact, all the problems that surround us are just evidence of the great misunderstanding of what it really means to be a human being. This misunderstanding is found within the mind of each and every person. Illustrating the real scenario of the present world and the consequence of a life without God is of fundamental importance, whether you are Christian or not. For the Christians, a reminder of what your life really is, relevantly different from those who are still looking for answers. For the non-Christian, it is an opportunity to understand the absolute reality of life.

Why do I need the truth? Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian and philosopher, once said, The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do; the thing is to find a truth which is true for me, to find the idea for which I can live and die.¹It is not merely a question of who has the best answer in a conversation. Discovering what is true is a matter of life or death.

Truth is required in every area of our lives. We do not want an airplane pilot to say anything but the truth. This principle applies to courts of justice, family members, doctors, and so forth and so on. No one likes to be deceived.

However, with regard to our lives, which involve morality, many are denying any possible absolute answer. Let me ask you to really consider a total commitment and openness of heart in the pursuit of truth. Either you are not a Christian and must consider this worldview as one of which your questions can be answered, or you are a Christian who requires reminding of certain things. Perhaps, even being a Christian, you have never heard about the real changes we must inevitably have on this new journey nor the danger of neglecting a Christ-centered life.

The definition of truth is, that which corresponds to its object². Basically, truth is what it is. As it is found in the The Talmud, If you add to the truth, you subtract from it.³ Therefore, you are either a Christian or not. There is no partial conversion. You are either forgiven, a new creature, living according to God’s will or not. We must remain constantly mindful of truth in our daily life.

Truth, regardless of our response to it, will keep being the truth. It never changes. Like it or not, the truth is the truth. There is an obvious disconnect between