It is only at the cross that we will find forgiveness and salvation. The cross leads through death, a death to oneself. This death frees us from what hinders our communion with God and with others. It renews our relationships. By renouncing sin and evil, which enslave us, we find freedom in Jesus.

We do not have the means to save ourselves, nor to improve through our own strength. But we can completely entrust ourselves to Jesus and His love, so much so that our lives no longer belong to us but entirely to Him. My father, J. Heinrich Arnold, wrote:

“If we wish to be healed of the wounds Satan inflicts on us with his traps and arrows […], we must have the same complete trust in God that Jesus had […]. Ultimately, all we have is our sin. But we must surrender our sin to Him, in trust. Then, He will forgive us, purify us, and give us peace of heart. And this leads to a love that is indescribable.”

What does it mean to “surrender our sin to Him, in trust”? Liberation, along with the possibility of reconciliation, begins when we confess what our conscience accuses us of. Sin dwells in darkness, and it wishes to remain there. But when the sins that weigh us down are brought into the light, when we acknowledge them fully, we can find forgiveness and freedom.

A person I met shared a story from her youth: A guy had promised me a wonderful future. He kept telling me how much he loved me and how beautiful I was! And I desperately wanted to believe him. Soon, we were holding hands. Then we hugged, kissed, touched—each gesture leading to another. As he demanded more, I suppressed my feelings of guilt and disgust. When he wanted to have sex, I gave in.

I chose to sink deeper into sin instead of facing the complete mess I was living. I wanted to run away to be with him, promising him love and loyalty—even when he threatened to kill me if I told anyone about our relationship. He disappeared the next day. I never saw him again.

In the grip of depression, I considered suicide. I had constant headaches and stomach aches. I felt like I was going insane. I was obsessed with sex. I couldn’t imagine living without a man who would “love” me. I went from one guy to another. Two of them were even seeing other girls. I grew increasingly desperate. I cried alone for hours. Yet, despite feeling like a prostitute, I tried to present a calm and joyful image to my family and friends…

This double life couldn’t last. One day, I was caught lying. That’s when I realized God was giving me a second chance. I might never have such an opportunity to free myself from sin again. I broke down. I confessed everything to my parents. But the devil didn’t want to let go of his prey so easily. He tormented me in my sleep.

Yet, the depth of God’s love truly touched me in the weeks and months that followed. My family and church constantly prayed for me and showed me their love. They didn’t lose hope for me. I believe that prayer cast out many evil spirits that seemed to linger around me, especially during the first few weeks.

After months of a difficult struggle, I was finally freed from the bondage of evil. Then came the unforgettable moment when the forgiveness of my sins was proclaimed by my pastor, in the name of God. That moment was filled with an overwhelming power and joy!

When we are burdened by sin, it is precious to find someone to talk to about it. Opening one’s heart to a person is like opening a valve the water gushes out, and the pressure disappears. If the confession is honest and sincere, it can bring profound relief, as it is the first step on the path to forgiveness. But ultimately, we must place ourselves before God. We cannot flee from Him or hide. If we are willing to stand before Him, in the light of His Son Jesus, He will erase our guilt.

God created man and woman for peace and joy. He gives this mission to every believer: to work for the new creation of His Kingdom of peace. To fulfill this task, we must joyfully accept God’s reign over our lives and be ready to follow Jesus to the end on His path that begins at the manger in Bethlehem and ends at the cross of Golgotha. It is a slow and humble journey. But it is the only path that leads to full light and hope.

Only Jesus can forgive and remove our sins. He will awaken our consciences, free them from impurity, bitterness, and turmoil (cf. Hebrew 9:14). If we listen to the voice of our conscience, take responsibility for the choices we have made, and accept God’s judgment and forgiveness, the greatness of our errors or the depth of our corruption no longer matter. In Christ, this conscience, once our enemy, will become our friend.

Forgiveness has the power to transform our lives.

The forgiveness offered by Jesus is so powerful that it will completely change our lives. What troubles or isolates us, what is impure and deceitful, what prevents us from loving and being loved, will give way if we surrender ourselves to Jesus. What is elevated will be brought low, and what is low will be lifted up. Change will begin deep within us. Then our outward life, with all our relationships, will be transformed.

Those who have been at the side of a dying person know how essential the inner relationship with God is. They know that in the end, at the moment of the last breath, this bond alone matters. Everyone must prepare to meet God it is the work of a lifetime. Jesus teaches us this when He says:

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

He also says: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) I have personally experienced, at the bedside of the dying, that those who, like Jesus, lived for others feel God’s closeness in their final moments. I have also seen, at the moment of death, the torment of those who lived in selfishness and sin and refused to repent.

Whether married or not, we all need to deepen our understanding of Jesus’ eternal healing words: I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) In Jesus reside life, love, and light. In Him, our lives and relationships will be purified of what burdens us and what, within us, hinders love. In Him, the image of God in us can be restored…

This text is an excerpt from the book SEXUALITY, MARRIAGE, AND GOD written by Johann Christoph Arnold.

We invite you to read the following article: “SEXUALITY AND SENSUALITY.”

Freedom Is Found in Renunciation. Freedom Is Found in Renunciation. Freedom Is Found in Renunciation.

Freedom Is Found in Renunciation. Freedom Is Found in Renunciation. Freedom Is Found in Renunciation.