delete   I know I’m going to sound very old-fashioned, but here goes. Kids today don’t know how good they have it. I’m typing this article on a word processor, but I remember the days before computers.

   When I went to school (I know, I know, back in the dark ages!), I never had the option of using a delete button for my papers. All of my term papers had to be done on a typewriter. You know those old, clunky machines that you can only find in museums today. When I made a typing mistake, which was more often than I’d like to admit, I had to use correction fluid or try to erase the error without tearing the paper. Some professors required my papers to be completely free from any corrections. Other professors would mark off if I had too many corrections. That was a struggle for me. Now, though, I have a word processor where I (and the computer) can correct my mistakes before my words are printed. Wahoo!! If I’m really careful, now even I can have a perfect-looking paper!

   Wouldn’t it be great if life came with a delete button, too? Oh, if we could just go back and delete our latest error and start all over! Everyday life is not like that, of course, but God knew how much we needed one.

   The Bible is a story about how God has made a “delete button” available for our sin. That is great news! It’s not only possible to have our sins removed, but we can be certain that all of our guilt has been “deleted” forever. God’s “delete button” is powerful enough, thankfully, to erase all of our sin. The Bible has made this clear: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). This forgiveness applies to every single sin because Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed” (Titus 2:14).

   How then can we make sure that God has actually deleted all of our sin so we will never have to face the punishment we rightly deserve?

   First, we must clearly understand two things:

   #1. God is amazing. “Great is the glory of the LORD” (Psalm 138:5). Among other things, God is all-powerful, eternal, beautiful, and holy.

   #2. God deserves our full devotion. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). “Do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). God is worthy of our wholehearted worship and affection because of who He is what He has done to prove His love for us. (See Revelation 5:12-13)

   Next we must be willing to admit two things:

   #1. We have failed to love and obey God. “For I know that nothing good dwells in me…” (Romans 7:18). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

   #2. We cannot do anything to make ourselves good enough for God. “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5).

   Lastly, we must surrender ourselves to God in two all-important ways.

   #1. Realize that Jesus has already paid the full price for all of our sin. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Christ’s work on the Cross makes it possible for us to be “justified

[declared sin-free] as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

   #2. We must turn our lives over to Jesus. “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

   Does this sound too simple to you? Human pride tells us that we can earn at least some of our forgiveness. We want to have a part in our own salvation. The world is full of religious people doing things that they believe will help them get into heaven. Jesus warns us, though, that “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). We must humble ourselves before God and realize that only God can erase our sin completely. He is the only One who has the “delete button,” and He doesn’t use it if we’re depending on our own good works, no matter how hard we are working. The solution is to turn our lives completely over to Him.

   If you have found a relationship with Christ, then I would love to hear how that happened. You can share your story or any questions with me at BethelChapelChurch@gmail.com