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Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland

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e freely forgiven by God because <strong>the</strong> repent<strong>in</strong>g<br />

person now hates <strong>the</strong> s<strong>in</strong> itself, and <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong><br />

s<strong>in</strong> is actually gone. Because Christ "gave himself<br />

for our s<strong>in</strong>s" (Galatians 1:4), <strong>the</strong>y are rightfully<br />

His, and we have no right to hang on to <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

Anyone who cl<strong>in</strong>gs to his s<strong>in</strong>s is robb<strong>in</strong>g Christ of<br />

what He bought with His blood.<br />

And where does Christ put those s<strong>in</strong>s He takes<br />

away? "You will trample our s<strong>in</strong>s underfoot and<br />

send <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> bottom of <strong>the</strong> sea!" Micah 7:19,<br />

TEV.<br />

Any brand of justification by faith that does not<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude genu<strong>in</strong>e forgiveness as remission of s<strong>in</strong>s<br />

and salvation from s<strong>in</strong> is a counterfeit. It is not <strong>the</strong><br />

New Testament k<strong>in</strong>d.<br />

But New Testament justification by faith never<br />

produces pride or fanaticism. He who remembers<br />

Christ's cross can have no "holier-than-thou" spirit.<br />

He is always aware that he has not one iota of<br />

righteousness himself. He knows his weakness,<br />

how prone he is to respond to temptation, how<br />

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