Faith versus Feelings
In Matthew 9 we read the story of a man who was paralyzed, so he had to be brought to Jesus by others. When they saw Jesus, and more precisely, when Jesus saw them and their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
The New King James Version says: “Be of good cheer” instead of “Take heart.” Now, no doubt, this man was sick. He couldn’t move and his friends had to carry him. It must be that the friends had faith, because they had to bring him to Jesus. So Jesus, seeing their faith, gave the man what he needed—“good cheer” or joy through the forgiveness of sins.
We know that Jesus did eventually heal the man of his paralysis and restored his strength so he could get up and walk. But the real burden was his sins. This man’s joy was not based on feelings. He could no more feel joy than he could feel his feet. But Jesus gave him the joy of salvation, not based on feelings but on faith, faith in God’s grace through Jesus alone. We may confess our sins before God our Father, having implored Him of His mercy to forgive our sins. We may have heard the words of forgiveness spoken each Divine Service. And yet, we may say, “I don’t feel forgiven.” When we think that, we are admitting that our human feelings control our God-given faith.
Guilt stays with our hearts and it’s hard to let go of. It tries to convince us that we are not really forgiven, as we hear the echo of the serpent’s words in Eve’s ears, “Did God really say you are forgiven.” And these words cast doubt on what God can and has done for you.
However, when Jesus declares that your sins are forgiven, THEY ARE FORGIVEN. We have the evidence of His shed blood on the cross. This is not based on feelings, but received by faith. It is faith that the Holy Spirit bestows on the heart. It is faith that believes and trusts in what Jesus did for full and free salvation. It is faith that tells our feelings “to be of good cheer.”
I know that my sins are forgiven because the Bible says that Jesus Christ took upon himself my sins and suffered the just penalty for those sins. My sins are forgiven be-cause the blood of Christ has been shed.
My faith rests upon the objective truth taught in the Word of God. As a result of believing and confessing that my sins are forgiven, the Holy Spirit removes my guilt and cleanses my conscience. Paul writes in Romans 5: 5 that God has poured his love into my heart through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, my feelings and emotions are the result of a faith that clings to the objective facts of the Word of God.
The New King James Version says: “Be of good cheer” instead of “Take heart.” Now, no doubt, this man was sick. He couldn’t move and his friends had to carry him. It must be that the friends had faith, because they had to bring him to Jesus. So Jesus, seeing their faith, gave the man what he needed—“good cheer” or joy through the forgiveness of sins.
We know that Jesus did eventually heal the man of his paralysis and restored his strength so he could get up and walk. But the real burden was his sins. This man’s joy was not based on feelings. He could no more feel joy than he could feel his feet. But Jesus gave him the joy of salvation, not based on feelings but on faith, faith in God’s grace through Jesus alone. We may confess our sins before God our Father, having implored Him of His mercy to forgive our sins. We may have heard the words of forgiveness spoken each Divine Service. And yet, we may say, “I don’t feel forgiven.” When we think that, we are admitting that our human feelings control our God-given faith.
Guilt stays with our hearts and it’s hard to let go of. It tries to convince us that we are not really forgiven, as we hear the echo of the serpent’s words in Eve’s ears, “Did God really say you are forgiven.” And these words cast doubt on what God can and has done for you.
However, when Jesus declares that your sins are forgiven, THEY ARE FORGIVEN. We have the evidence of His shed blood on the cross. This is not based on feelings, but received by faith. It is faith that the Holy Spirit bestows on the heart. It is faith that believes and trusts in what Jesus did for full and free salvation. It is faith that tells our feelings “to be of good cheer.”
I know that my sins are forgiven because the Bible says that Jesus Christ took upon himself my sins and suffered the just penalty for those sins. My sins are forgiven be-cause the blood of Christ has been shed.
My faith rests upon the objective truth taught in the Word of God. As a result of believing and confessing that my sins are forgiven, the Holy Spirit removes my guilt and cleanses my conscience. Paul writes in Romans 5: 5 that God has poured his love into my heart through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, my feelings and emotions are the result of a faith that clings to the objective facts of the Word of God.