Forgiveness is the Sweetest Word in the World

You know, sometimes the best ideas for sermons don’t arrive while you’re staring at a blank page—they sneak up on you in the middle of someone else’s sermon. That’s what happened to me last week while listening to my brother-in-law preach. He said something simple, almost in passing, but it hit me like a hymnbook falling off the back of a pew:  “Forgiveness is the sweetest word in the world.”

Now, I’m not usually one to steal material… but I am willing to borrow it aggressively, so . . . 

The more I sat with that phrase, the more it grew on me. Think about it:  forgiveness really is the sweetest word in the world. It’s sweeter than “dessert buffet,” sweeter than “your package has arrived,” and maybe even sweeter than “the doctor says it’s just allergies.” Forgiveness is the core of the Christian story, the anchor of our hope, and the center of how we respond to God’s will.

So, let’s walk through this big, beautiful idea together—because if forgiveness is the sweetest word in the world, we ought to understand why.

The Need for Forgiveness: We’re All in the Same Boat

The Bible has a way of leveling the playing field pretty quickly—Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other words, none of us has a spotless record. We’ve all messed up. Some of us have sinned loudly, some quietly, but nobody gets to claim perfection.

If sin were a stain, we’d all be walking around like we ate spaghetti while wearing white.

And because of that sin, we need forgiveness—not just a casual “my bad,” but a deep, soul-cleansing reconciliation with the God who made us. Left to ourselves, we can’t fix it. We can try harder, promise better, or pretend we’ve got it handled—but the truth is:  we need help. We need grace.

The Means of Forgiveness: Jesus at the Center

This is where the sweetness gets even sweeter.

Forgiveness isn’t something we earn; it’s something God offers. And He doesn’t offer it with crossed arms or a raised eyebrow. He offers it freely, lovingly, and through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.

Ephesians 1:7 puts it beautifully:  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus didn’t come to earth to make us “better people.” He came to save us. To forgive us. To restore us.

And the amazing thing is—He actually invites us into that grace. Not by guessing what to do, but by giving us a clear path: faith, repentance, confession of His name, and baptism—that beautiful moment where we are united with Christ, our sins are washed away, and we rise to walk in newness of life (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4). Baptism isn’t an “extra.” It’s part of the moment we come to Jesus, part of the embrace of His saving forgiveness.

Forgiveness isn’t just sweet—it’s accessible.

The Results of Forgiveness: A Whole New Life

Now, here’s the really good part:  forgiveness doesn’t just clean up our past—it transforms our present and redirects our future.

When God forgives, He doesn’t do it halfway. Psalm 103 says He removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west.” That’s poetic Hebrew for “so far you couldn’t find it again with a map, a compass, and a search party.”

Forgiven people become forgiving people. We’re called to release bitterness, mend relationships, and extend grace—because God has extended so much grace to us. Forgiveness becomes both a gift we receive and a gift we pass on.

And what does forgiveness produce in our lives? Peace. Joy. Hope. A lighter heart. A deeper faith. A stronger walk. And a perspective that sees others not as problems to be fixed, but as souls to be loved.

A Sweet Final Thought

Forgiveness really is the sweetest word in the world—not because it sounds nice, but because of what it accomplishes. It takes broken people and makes them whole. It takes guilty people and sets them free. It takes lost people and brings them home.

And God offers it to every one of us.

So yes, inspiration came from a sermon I didn’t plan to borrow from—but I suppose good ideas belong to God anyway. And His idea of forgiveness? It’s sweeter than anything we could ever imagine.

Why Baptism Is Necessary According to Scripture

Baptism has been a subject of a lot of discussion among sincere believers. Some see it as simply a symbol of faith, while others understand it as being an essential part of responding to the gospel. But have you ever asked, “What does Scripture actually teach?” When we carefully look at God’s Word, we see baptism isn’t just a ceremony or an optional outward expression—it’s an act of obedient faith through which God works to unite us with Christ.

Let’s start with what baptism is. The word itself comes from the Greek term baptízō, meaning to immerse, to dip, to submerge. It was used in everyday Greek to describe plunging something completely under water—like a cloth being dipped into dye. That’s why, in Scripture, baptism is always described as an immersion, not a sprinkling or mere symbolic act. Paul explains that baptism represents a burial and resurrection: “We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead... even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). So, baptism, then, is not only a picture of the gospel—it’s where we participate in it.

Why It Matters

Jesus Himself made baptism a command—not a suggestion. In the Great Commission, He told His apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...” (Matthew 28:19). In Mark’s account, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Notice the order:  belief and baptism go hand in hand. The early church took this seriously. On the day of Pentecost, when the crowd asked Peter what they must do, he replied, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). That’s about as clear as Scripture can get.

Baptism is also where we put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” It’s the moment of transition from being in sin to being in Christ. Peter, too, draws the connection plainly:  “Baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but the appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism isn’t about physical water—it’s about a spiritual transaction between the believer and God.

Common Misunderstandings

Some very well-meaning people argue that baptism can’t be necessary because salvation is “by faith alone.” And that’s true—salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). But genuine faith is always active—it responds in obedience. Just as Noah’s faith led him to build the ark (Hebrews 11:7) and Abraham’s faith led him to obey God’s command (James 2:21–24), saving faith leads us to obey Christ’s command to be baptized. Baptism doesn’t earn salvation—it’s how faith submits to the grace God offers.

Others say the thief on the cross proves baptism isn’t necessary. But that man lived and died before Jesus’ death and resurrection, under the old covenant. The gospel’s baptism (into Christ’s death and resurrection) hadn’t yet been established. After the resurrection, though, every conversion in recorded in Acts includes baptism—and it is never as an afterthought, but as the expected, immediate response to the gospel (see Acts 8:35–38; 9:18; 10:47–48; 16:31–33; 22:16).

The Heart of It All

Ultimately, baptism is about surrender. It’s where faith meets grace. It’s not just going through water—it’s being united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. To minimize baptism is to misunderstand how God has chosen to apply His saving work to our lives.

When Priscilla and Aquila found Apollos preaching accurately about Jesus but knowing “only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25–26), they lovingly explained “the way of God more accurately.” Many believers today, like Apollos, are sincere and passionate but may not have been taught the full picture. The good news is that God’s Word makes it beautifully clear:  baptism is not a ritual—it’s a moment of obedient faith where we die to sin and rise to new life in Christ.

But Wait . . . What About the Sinner’s Prayer?

Many sincere people today have been taught to “pray Jesus into their heart” or to “say the sinner’s prayer” to be saved. While this practice is common in modern evangelical culture, it does not appear in Scripture—not even once. There is no command to pray a salvation prayer, no example of anyone doing so, and no passage that teaches salvation comes by praying a specific prayer. 

What we do see in Scripture is a consistent pattern of how people responded to the gospel:  

• They heard the message (Romans 10:17). They believed it (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12).

• They repented (Acts 2:38; 17:30).

• They confessed Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9–10; Acts 8:37).

• They were baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:36–38; 22:16; Galatians 3:27).

This is the pattern repeated over and over in the book of Acts. Not once do we see an apostle telling someone, “Repeat after me” or “Invite Jesus into your heart.”

Where Did the Idea Come From?

The sinner’s prayer arose in the last few centuries as part of revival movements. Well-intentioned preachers wanted a simple, immediate way for people to respond emotionally to a sermon. Over time, the prayer became seen by many as the way to receive salvation—despite having no biblical foundation.

But Doesn't Romans 10:9–13 Teach a Salvation Prayer?

Some point to Romans 10:9–13, especially “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” as support for the sinner’s prayer. But in Scripture, “calling on the Lord’s name” is not praying a formula—it means appealing to God in faithful obedience. That’s exactly how Ananias explained it to Saul:  “And now why do you wait? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16)

Paul called on the Lord’s name by submitting to baptism—not by saying a prayer.

What Does the Bible Actually Teach About Becoming a Christian?

Every conversion in Acts includes baptism at the moment a person’s sins are forgiven. The early Christians took Jesus’ words seriously:  “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)  

The sinner’s prayer, by contrast, is never mentioned.

A Kind and Honest Conclusion

Many people who have said a sinner’s prayer were acting out of sincere hearts, wanting desperately to follow Jesus. Their sincerity should be honored, not attacked. But like Apollos in Acts 18, many believers simply haven’t been taught “the way of God more accurately.”

The Scripture’s message is simple, beautiful, and consistent:  We are saved by God’s grace through obedient faith—not by reciting a prayer.

The Upside-Down Kingdom: Living by the Values of Jesus

When I was younger, I remember hearing a story about how hunters used to catch monkeys in parts of Asia and Africa. It’s really kind of simple. They take a hollow gourd, tie it to a tree, and cut a small hole in the side. The hole is just big enough for a monkey’s open hand to fit through. Then they drop a piece of fruit or something shiny inside. The curious monkey reaches in, grabs the treat, and suddenly finds its clenched fist is too big to pull back out. All it would have to do to escape is let go of what it is holding. But it doesn’t. It stubbornly holds on to what it wants, and that keeps it trapped until the hunter arrives.

We can smile at the foolishness of that little monkey—but we shouldn’t laugh too hard. Spiritually speaking, we do the same thing. We hold on to comfort, control, pride, and possessions that keep us from real freedom. Jesus calls us to let go, but that’s easier said than done – especially when what He teaches runs so opposite to what we’ve always been told.

Jesus’ teachings have always been a bit upside down—at least compared to the world’s logic. He didn’t come to reinforce popular thought; He came to replace it. And what He offered was nothing short of a complete reordering of values. Power, status, comfort, and self-preservation were out. Humility, sacrifice, service, and faith were in.

Let’s look at three moments in Jesus’ teaching that show how completely He turned our expectations inside out.

1. The Greatest Is the Servant - Mark 10:42-45

When Jesus’ disciples argued about who among them was the greatest, He didn’t scold or berate them for wanting to be great—He simply redefined what greatness looks like. He said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” Then He pointed to Himself:  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

That’s not how greatness works in the world. In business, in politics, or even in our social lives, greatness usually means getting noticed, getting ahead, or getting our way. But Jesus flips that kind of thinking upside down. In His Kingdom, greatness isn’t measured by how many people serve you—it’s measured by how many people you serve.

In short, greatness wears an apron, not a crown.

2. Losing Life to Find It - Luke 9:23-24

Then there’s another paradox of Jesus that sounds backwards to our ears: “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it.”

It’s not that Jesus wants us to live recklessly; He’s showing us that the more we try to hold on to control, the more we actually lose the very thing we’re trying to preserve. The monkey in the gourd had a clear goal—keep the prize. But what it held on to became the reason it couldn’t escape.

We often fall into the same trap. We hold on to our plans, our possessions, or our pride, thinking they’ll keep us safe. But in the end—they just keep us stuck. Jesus invites us to release our grip—to trust that real life begins when we let go of the illusion of control and hand our lives over to Him.

It’s a strange kind of math:  subtraction becomes addition, loss becomes gain, and surrender becomes freedom. 

That’s the logic of the Kingdom.

3. Blessed Are the Least - Matthew 5:1–12

And then, just when we think we’ve figured Him out, Jesus steps up on a hillside and says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit… blessed are those who mourn… blessed are the meek… blessed are those who are persecuted.”

Now, that’s not how we have used the word “blessed.” The world says, “Blessed are the rich, the confident, the successful, the comfortable.” But Jesus looks at the humble, the grieving, and the overlooked and says, “You’re the ones who are truly blessed, because the Kingdom belongs to you.”

He wasn’t offering a list of religious virtues to add to our list of things to work on; instead, He was painting a picture of a new kind of life—a life rooted not in achievement, but in dependence on God. In reality, the Beatitudes are less about climbing ladders and more about stepping down into the kind of humility that makes room for grace.

So, in Jesus’ world, the least become the most loved, and those who seem to have nothing discover they already have everything.

Turning Life Right Side Up

From beginning to end, Jesus’ Kingdom seems upside down to us—until we realize it’s actually right side up and we’re the ones who have been living upside down all along.

The world tells us to take—Jesus says to give. The world tells us to lead—Jesus says to serve. The world says hold on tight—Jesus says let go. The world says self-preservation—Jesus says self-sacrifice.

And maybe that’s why following Jesus feels hard to us sometimes—it’s not just about changing our behavior, it’s about changing our complete direction. It means loosening our grip on the things that trap us and trusting that God’s way, as backward as it seems at the moment, is the only way that truly leads us forward.

So the next time you feel stuck, like you can’t quite move forward in faith, stop and ask:  “What am I still holding onto?” It might just be your gourd moment—the thing Jesus is waiting for you to let go of so you can finally be free.

After all, the monkey never had to be trapped. He just had to open his hand.

Singing From the Heart: God’s Way of Worship

When you think about worship, what comes to mind? For some, it’s the sound of a choir, the swell of an organ, or the strum of a guitar. For others, it’s the simple, unaccompanied voices of Christians singing together. But instead of asking, “What do I prefer?” or “What sounds good to me?”—the better question is:  “What does God want?”

That question takes us straight to Ephesians 5:19, where Paul writes:  “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

This one verse says a lot about God’s desire for worship, and if we take it seriously, it challenges us to think deeply about how we praise Him.

If we add in what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts”, the emphasis becomes even clearer:  New Testament worship is built upon words, shared in song, flowing from hearts filled with Christ.

God Asked for Singing

Notice Paul doesn’t say “play” or “strum.” He says “sing.” The Greek word used here (ado) means just that—to sing with the voice. This is not an accident, nor is it vague. God chose His words carefully. When He wanted instrumental music in the Old Testament temple, He told the Levites to play (2 Chronicles 29:25). But when He described Christian worship under the new covenant, He told us to sing.

If I invite you to dinner and say, “Please bring dessert,” I don’t mean for you to also bring a pot roast and a bag of chips. I specified dessert. In the same way, when God specifies singing, that is what He expects.

The Instrument Is the Heart

Paul doesn’t stop there. He adds:  “making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

The Greek word psallō once referred to plucking strings, but by Paul’s time it had shifted in meaning—it meant “to sing praise.” To make sure there was no confusion, Paul points out the instrument:  the heart.

This is beautiful. God doesn’t want the twang of a string or the beat of a drum—He wants the melody of a heart devoted to Him. Anyone can make noise on an instrument, but only a surrendered heart can make music that pleases God.

Worship on God’s Terms, Not Ours

Now here’s the part that pushes against modern thinking:  worship is not about our preferences. We live in a world where people shop for churches the way they shop for shoes—looking for what feels comfortable, stylish, or entertaining. But worship is not about what entertains me; it’s about what honors God.

Think about it. If Noah had decided to build the ark out of oak or cedar instead of gopher wood, would God have been pleased? No—because God specified. In the same way, God has specified singing. Adding instruments may feel natural to us, but if He didn’t ask for it, is it really worship to Him?

Jesus put it plainly:  “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Worship in truth means worship on God’s terms, not ours.

The Witness of History

History backs this up. For the first several centuries after Christ, Christians sang without instruments. Clement of Alexandria (around 200 A.D.) warned against instruments, saying they belonged to pagan feasts, not Christian worship. Augustine said the true instrument of worship is the heart. Even the word “a cappella” literally means “in the style of the church.”

So, not only does the New Testament leave instruments out, but the early Christians understood it that way too.

Why It Matters

Some might say, “But instruments make worship richer!” Maybe they sound beautiful to us—but worship isn’t about pleasing us. It’s about pleasing God. If we love Him, shouldn’t we want to give Him what He asked for, not what we think He might enjoy?

Think of it like a gift. If your spouse asks for something simple and heartfelt, but you insist on giving them something flashy and expensive instead, who are you really thinking about—you or them? Worship works the same way. The question isn’t, “Do I like it?” but “Does God want it?”

Conclusion:  The Music God Loves

Ephesians 5:19 paints a clear picture:  God wants His people to lift their voices in song, making melody in their hearts. This is worship that is personal, spiritual, and God-centered.

When we obey Him in this, we’re not missing out—we’re actually stepping into the purest form of praise, the kind the apostles knew, the kind the early church practiced, the kind God desires.

So, the next time you lift your voice in worship, remember:  you are holding the only instrument God ever asked for—the heart. Play it well, and God will be pleased.

Jesus as Lord and Savior: Faith, Struggle, and True Success

As Christians, when we say that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we are really acknowledging two sides of an incredible relationship. As our Savior, Jesus rescues us from sin and offers us eternal life through His death and resurrection (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). As our Lord, He calls us to live under His authority, surrendering our lives to His guidance and leadership (Luke 6:46; Philippians 2:9–11). Both are essential. Receiving Him as Savior gives us hope for eternity, but recognizing Him as Lord changes how we live every day.

Think of the lifeguard at the beach. If you are drowning and the lifeguard pulls you out of the water—that’s salvation. But if the same lifeguard then tells you, “Don’t go back into that dangerous current,” following his instructions is an act of obedience to his lordship. Jesus doesn’t just save us from death; He leads us into a new way of living.

Struggles in Faith

Faith is not always easy. Some of us think of it as more of a “ticket to heaven” than a daily walk with Christ. When we see Jesus only as Savior, our faith can turn passive—we’re grateful for His forgiveness but we resist any real change in our lives. James warns us not to deceive ourselves by merely hearing the word without doing something with it (James 1:22).

Others of us wrestle with trust. God’s timing often doesn’t match ours, and we often get impatient. We are tempted to cut corners or compromise our values. Abraham and Sarah’s attempt to “help” God fulfill His promise by having a child through Hagar (Genesis 16) shows how rushing ahead of God can bring us a lot of heartache.

And then there is the challenge of distraction. Pursuing more money, a better career, and more recognition can subtly replace our devotion to God. Jesus warned, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Mark 8:36). If we fix our eyes only on worldly success, our faith may quietly slide into the background. Then, over time, without prayer, Scripture, or Christian community, we may drift into spiritual stagnation—still professing faith but experiencing very little transformation.

Finding True Success Through Faith

But in reality, countless people do find a way to hold faith and success at the same time. The difference lies in their seeing Jesus not only as their Savior but also as their Lord. That subtle, but significant shift brings a new perspective:  their success isn’t just measured in promotions, possessions, or popularity—they measure it in faithfulness.

People who thrive spiritually and even professionally often share certain habits:

• Obedience – They apply biblical principles such as honesty, humility, and diligence. Daniel, for instance, refused to defile himself with the king’s food (Daniel 1:8). His obedience not only honored God but also set him apart because of his wisdom and trustworthiness.

• Trust in God’s Timing – Joseph’s life is a powerful example. Though he spent years in slavery and prison, he remained faithful, and in God’s perfect timing Joseph rose to second-in-command in all of Egypt (Genesis 41).
  
  

• Faith and Work Together – Nehemiah prayed earnestly for Jerusalem, but he also rolled up his sleeves and rebuilt the walls (Nehemiah 4:6). His success came through both his faith and his action.
  
  

• Service to Others – True success is really not just personal gain but it comes from lifting others up. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Think of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). His success was not defined by his status but by his compassion.
  
  

• Resilience in Trials – Paul faced many beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment, yet he wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). His strength was not in circumstances but in Christ.

Bringing It All Together

In the end, Jesus as Savior gives us peace with God; Jesus as Lord gives us purpose in life. When we hold both together, our faith becomes active, growing, and life-shaping. Worldly success may come and go, but the one who follows Jesus as both Lord and Savior finds something much deeper and better—joy, meaning, and eternal hope.

It’s a bit like building a house. If Jesus is only our Savior, we may have the foundation—but if He is also our Lord, then the house is built, furnished, and we can live in it. We don’t just escape destruction; we experience abundant life (John 10:10).

So, the real question is not only, “Do I believe Jesus saved me?” but also, “Am I willing to let Him lead me?” When we are able to do both, we discover that the truest success is not found in what we build for ourselves but in who we become in Him.