Faith in Forgiveness!

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." . . . Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)

There is a difference between being remorseful and repentant. "I'm sorry" is not "Please forgive me, I was wrong". Peter returned to Jesus repentant after he denied Jesus. Judas however, did not return, but went to his death remorseful. Judas regretted what he had done, yet he did not believe in forgiveness. He did not have faith in the power of the forgiveness Christ offers. Many today have faith that Jesus is who He says He is, yet never fully believe in the grace and mercy offered through His sacrificial act upon the cross. There is never a confidence in knowing all has been forgiven and full restoration is a reality! Like Peter, we repent . . . yes we regret . . . yes we are remorseful . . . but we also REPENT and ask the Lord to forgive and then trust Him at His Word. God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness . . . ALL sin (1 John 1:9). What have we done that God can not forgive? Was the cross not enough? Have faith in the forgiveness Christ offers!