Because He First Loved Us

I need to correct myself in this post fear-love-forgiveness.html I wrote: “Jesus’ love is unconditional, but His forgiveness requires belief in Him as the Holy Son of God & spotless lamb of sacrifice for our sins & eternal life in Him, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

After reflecting upon this Muslim man, Afshin Javier’s amazing conversion testimony of Christ’s forgiveness: 
https://youtu.be/EnqeC35SUhQ?si=A6msLQP2cseYpKSy
I am reminded that Jesus’ forgiveness comes WITH His love --a gift He’s already given to everyone. To be received, Jesus’ gift (just as all gifts) must be accepted. As a devout man (& member of the Basij), Afshin was faithful in his pursuit of Allah but instead he met Jesus who showed him his unholiness! Jesus told Afshin, “I forgive you” before Afshin even knew the Gospel. Afshin says after his encounter with Christ, he received a Bible written in English, a language he didn’t know, but “the words came alive & I could read & understand”. Afshin knows Jesus as the Living God & Living Waters --a miraculous example of what Matthew tells us: “…when we seek, we will find…” (Matthew 7:7).

Those who do not earnestly seek after God (but instead focus on all the reasons it doesn’t make sense to believe), likely have difficulty accepting the foundations of the Gospel 1). that they need forgiveness & 2). the truth & significance of Jesus’ crucifixion & resurrection. I pray Lord for those who are held in cognitive stronghold against the Gospel that You please release them & reveal Yourself to them in Your infinite wisdom. Open their minds to receive you & their hearts to accept & experience You as our Heavenly Father & Prince of Peace! In Jesus precious name, amen 🙏