Whenyou read the name Ted Bundy does your mind remember the horror that he leftbehind in his wake of rape, kidnapping, and murder. The lives he not only tookbut the lives he destroyed in his acts of selfishness for his own personalpleasures. The night he was executed (January 24, 1989) there were many outsidethe prison voicing their opinions. Waving signs of hate and cheered when thewords came “he is dead.” Should he have been punished for his acts?The answer is sure but then the question comes to light should this man beforgiven for his awful deeds to so many? Some may answer this question as no, never but this thing aboutforgiveness becomes a big matter. Many will not forgive themselves and otherscan’t forgive others for the wrongs done unto them. God forgave King David formurder; the Lord Jesus forgave the thief that was beside Him that day onCalvary. I was reading and came across these verses that were able to help meunderstand this matter about forgiveness.
1Corinthians6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit thekingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, noradulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Corinthians6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, norextortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Paultakes the time to help us he says I want you to know that wicked people won’tinherit the kingdom of God. Then he names a bunch of things for instance sexualsins, worshiping false God, those who commit adultery, thieves, those that aregreedy, those that use abusive language and drunkards for a few. We might say“amen” to that list. But it’s the next verse that we must read.
1Corinthains6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye aresanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by theSpirit of our God. Wait a minute did that say that’s what some of youwere? Yes, now step outside of the box and look at it. Paul uses the word“were” past tense for to be; so something has changed? What was it “but you arewashed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the LordJesus and by the Spirit of our God.
1Corinthains6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye aresanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by theSpirit of our God. Wait a minute did that say that’s what some of youwere? Yes, now step outside of the box and look at it. Paul uses the word“were” past tense for to be; so something has changed? What was it “but you arewashed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the LordJesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Acts4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is noneother name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. It’s because of the Lord Jesus thatyou and I can be washed, sanctified and justified. Thereforewe are no longer what we were or could have been. I personally didn’t have toforgive Ted Bundy or any other serial killer but I have had to forgive otherswho have done hateful and awful things to me and my family. I could only havedone that through the Lord Jesus Christ, for He forgave me of all never to beremembered no more.
Heb10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Godsays I choose not to remember their sins. Are we willing to do the same? Makethat decision and choose not to remember?
