All of the non-living universe and all life are God’s creations. However, only people are God’s children. God wants all of His children to be Christians and thereby have eternal life. The Bible says it is not God’s will for any to perish.

Many Christian people feel guilty and afraid because of some sin or sins they committed either before or after their conversion to Christ. People like this need to look at the life of Christ and understand that while Christ was firm in his moral teachings, He was at the same time the God of perfect Love.

People concerned about their personal salvation have often studied the Bible like a lawyer picking a multi-million dollar contract, trying to discern every shade of meaning in every sentence. The definite interpretation of the Bible is not humanly possible. People who read the Bible like this tend to develop a vindictive image of God. They see Christ as if He is like an olden day prisoner road captain that will blow their brains out if they break one of His rules. Once again guilty and fearful people need to look at the life of Christ.

Take for example the story of the woman who had committed adultery. According to Hebrew law of the day she was supposed to be stoned to death. Jesus was there and He said to the crowd, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” The crowd went away and the woman knew God had forgiven her.

There is the story of Peter outside the temple after Christ was arrested, when he denied being one of Jesus’ disciples three times. As Jesus said would happen, the cock crowed three times. Peter remembered his Savior’s words and wept. However, Peter asked Jesus to forgive him and he was forgiven. After this, Peter went on to become one of the greatest spokesmen for Jesus.

There is the story of Saul on the Damascus road when Jesus called him to preach the Gospel. Saul had been engaged in persecuting the Christians, and after his conversion to Christ he referred to himself as the chief of sinners.

This demonstrates the omnipotent power of Jesus to forgive and remake a human being. Paul, as he was called after the Damascus road experience, went on to become perhaps the greatest Christian that ever lived.

The New Testament tells of how Jesus forgave Mary Magdalene of her sex sins and taught her how to live. It is interesting to note that Jesus appeared to her after His resurrection while she was in His empty tomb. Jesus said to Mary Magdalene to “Fear not, it is I.” Jesus always dealt gently with those guilty of sex sins.

Saint Paul tells us of the immorality of the first church he founded. Paul also tells of the laziness of the Christians in the first church. I think Paul means by this that these Christians did not work to lead others to accept Christ. Nevertheless, Paul tells of Jesus’ forgiveness of the members of the first church if they would repent of their immorality and laziness.

It is obvious from these examples that God through Jesus Christ is a forgiving God and not a vindictive God.

When we become Christians we do not become perfect but continue to commit sins, but we do not make a practice of committing sins if the spirit of Christ has actually come into us.

God knows that it is humanly impossible for people to become sinless, but through Jesus Christ, God forgives Christians for all of our past, present, and future sins, and we do not perish, but have eternal life. Without Jesus and forgiveness, we have nothing.

Harrison Barnett, Jr. 215 Spring Street, Washington, Ga.