That is true. Period.
Of course, it presumes a certain context: that we are talking about forgiveness, life, and salvation for Christ’s sake – peace with God through the crucified and risen Son of God via words from God (so if you are talking about some other kind of salvation, that statement would not necessarily be true)
And if you don’t want forgiveness for sins God has shown you, it seems we are not talking about the same Jesus (see this interesting post to) – even if we are using the same words. If you were baptized into Christ, it would seem that although your baptism was valid, it is not presently efficacious. In other words, maybe you can say “I was baptized”, but can you honestly say “I am baptized”?
But what if you are not sure you don’t need forgiveness for such sins? What if you are struggling – meaning that you are not complacently taking pride in your “noble struggle” – but are truly haunted and bothered by it?
The fact that you have warring motivations does not change the fact that you have eternal life – this war is evidence that you have His Spirit already, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is fighting in and for you. The words of a “Mighty Fortress is our God” come to mind:
…He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit….
He has been reconciled with you and you with Him.
And that doesn’t mean everything is easy! – receiving all the salvation God has for us can be a difficult process to endure.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife….
But we must always remember that forgiveness, life and salvation do not just come to us at the beginning of our life with God, but throughout it (listen to this free audio of the Gospel for those broken by the church if this is sounds like something you need to hear more of).
Just remain in Him. Remember Him. Treasure all His words to you – ones that condemn and kill you and ones that comfort and raise you. For he is everything to us and we look nowhere else. In the past, the present and the future His is the only Source of life, love, and light! By His word, He holds all that is good together.
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The kingdom ours remaineth.
“Jesus remember me in your Kingdom…” And as I recently read on an E.O. blog, “We are able to say no to God, but God is no longer able to say no to us, for according to St Paul, “there is only yes in God” (2 Cor 1:19), the yes of his Covenant which Christ has given on the Cross….”
Yes in that He is the friend of sinners, of bruised reeds, and smoldering wicks…
Amen!
FIN
In the coming weeks, I hope to do some others posts going into much detail about things like “free will” and “prevenient grace”.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10154402@N03/2838350875
theology like a child 
SamWise57
March 28, 2013 at 4:42 pm
“The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church” was what I listened to just prior to starting catechesis! His talk on Luther also moved me from the insecurity of the Reformed!
markmcculley
November 25, 2013 at 9:08 pm
If you keep the conditions of the law, then those conditions turn into promises? And the law turns into gospel? And the antithesis between law and gospel disappears? Many confused calvinists seem to think that–but they are wrong.
markmcculley
November 25, 2013 at 9:09 pm
Using Matthew 11:28 as an example, the reward (“rest”) is what will be given to those who come to Christ. If you are weary of sin and come to Christ, He will give you rest. But Jesus never indicates that the promised “rest” has been purchased for everyone. In fact, He does not even offer it to everyone. Jesus specifically limits the scope of His invitation to those “who are weary and heavy-laden.” This is no invitation to the self-righteous. It is a promise of relief to people who see their sin for what it is and are weary of it. And the only people who will ever be truly weary of their sin (that is, with the godly sorrow that leads to repentance and salvation as opposed to the sorrow of the world that produces death—cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10) are those who have been given life and are being drawn by the Holy Spirit to repentance—that is, the elect. And in case you think the doctrine of election is out of character with Jesus’ winsome words of invitation in verse 28, notice that it is strongly confirmed in the previous verse. Just before saying, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, Jesus said, All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him (Matthew 11:27). – See more at: http://www.ccwtoday.org/article/speaking-biblically-about-the-death-of-christ/#sthash.RJR72Knh.dpuf
markmcculley
November 25, 2013 at 9:21 pm
Jesus spoke of the gospel, not as an offer, but as a sword.
Do not think that I came to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household (Matthew 10:34-36).
Jesus came with a message of truth designed to divide, not a gift purchased for all. Some believed the truth and found peace with God while others disbelieved and remained God’s enemies (cf. Romans 5:10). In this way, the earthly peace that formerly characterized many close relationships was replaced by strife and division. And Jesus clearly said that His purpose in coming was to make such a division.
Paul describes the gospel in similar terms of separation in both of his letters to the Corinthians: For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him [i.e., the gospel] in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved, and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma of life to life (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
infanttheology
November 25, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Mark,
Thanks for the comments. Hopefully more from me soon.
Blessings in Christ,
Nathan