Often times I've heard people say, "It's better to ask forgiveness than permission." I've even said this from time to time. What that phrase means is to go ahead and do what you want to and you'll probably be able to get out of any unpleasant consequences if you handle yourself properly. The phrase operates on the assumption that forgiveness is offered regardless of what you do. That might seem like a good life philosophy, but reality tells us that consequences are not always forgiven when we do what we want. The Christian faith operates like this: You are forgiven, now you are free to do what God would have you do. Rather than brashly moving forward with our own agenda in the hope that forgiveness may come, we operate out of the forgiveness we've been given through Christ and we are free to do God's will rather than act in bondage to sin. Forgiveness is an already completed reality for the follower of Christ. We are as forgiven as we will ever be and with that knowledge comes great freedom to live the Christian life. Let me encourage you to appropriate God's forgiveness by faith and live in the moment by moment reality of God's forgiveness. You'll be glad you did!