We have been found by the Lord. We have also been forgiven by Him.
You cannot forgive yourself. You have to be forgiven by someone else.
When you sin against someone else - a husband, wife, brother, sister, friend, neighbour - you cannot simply say, "I forgive myself."
You need to be forgiven by the person you've sinned against. You cannot give forgiveness to yourself. You can only receive it as a gift.
It is the same with God's forgiveness. We have sinned against God. We need to be forgiven by God.
This is the Good News of Jesus Christ, our wonderful Saviour. Our sins have been forgiven by Jesus. In ourselves, we are guilty sinners. In Him, we are forgiven sinners.
This is the Good News in which we rejoice when we hear the great words of our Saviour: "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28).
These are the wonderful words through which we receive the new wine of the Spirit.
