Forgiveness

Forgiveness

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Psalm 130:4

Once we have, in the light of the Word of God, taken a good long look at who we really are, the conclusion is not pretty or nice. We stand condemned, utterly and completely. The Holy Character of God, His laws and commandments, as well as our own thoughts, words, and deeds all condemn us. We deserve a place in the lowest hell. Set over against this we see the glory of God’s forgiveness; Our sins are ‘as scarlet,’ yet He forgives them and makes them ‘as white as snow, though they be red like crimson,’ He makes them ‘as wool.’ Such a transformation comes to us by way of One Person, that is, Christ our Savior, Who has lived perfectly, satisfying the demands of God’s Law in precept. He has died sacrificially, satisfying the demands of God’s Law in penalty. We have forgiveness by the perfect obedience of Christ. He has made Himself the Offering for our sins. He, the perfect High Priest, offered Himself as the Lamb of God, and thereby ‘takes away the sin of the world.’ All of my sin is all the way under His Blood, for all time, and for all eternity. ‘There is forgiveness with You.’ What a relief. What a privilege. What a gift. What a Savior. Here is the basis for real freedom. Here is the foundation of real gratitude.  Christ has done all that was necessary to secure my forgiveness. To Him, I owe everything.

Our Gracious and Forgiving God,
we rejoice that the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior
cleanses us from all sin.
‘Dear, Dying Lamb, Thy precious Blood
shall never lose its power,
and all the Ransomed Church of God,
be saved to sin no more.’

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning