Posts Tagged ‘ Forgiveness ’
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21, CSB
God is our Creator and Savior, granting us rest from sins by becoming one of us to give Himself for our sins.
God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
Romans 3:25, CSB
Jesus’ body is not in the tomb after dying for our sins, so we can know our sins are forgiven forever and hope for eternity with God.
No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13, CSB
Christ has freed us, and He has freed us from sin by His own blood and from the terror of God by calling us friends.
One of the funniest moments of the 2003 film “Elf” was Buddy the Elf seeing a feral raccoon, spreading out his arms, and asking, “Does someone need a hug?” (It did not go well.)
Something I like to tell people is that on January 9, 2000, Jesus hugged me in welcome to His Family. On July 26, 2000, I finally returned the hug.
It is nice to think about receiving a comforting hug when life feels overwhelming, things are generally crazy, or having just gone through a horrible situation.
It is also nice to look back through the Bible and see how God has been there for His people:
In the Exodus, God said He rescued Israel with a mighty hand and outstretched arm (Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:34, 5:15, 7:19; Psalm 136:12).
Within Israel and their Exile, God welcomes those who come to Him humbly and for His glory (1 Kings 8:41-43; 2 Chronicles 6:32-33; Ezekiel 20:34).
We can see how God has been taking care of His people, yes even under judgment at times.
What is the most comforting is that God came to us to take the punishment we deserve for disobedience. He promised to do this when He spoke with Abraham 4,000 years ago (Genesis 15), and there are so many places that it is laid out in the Hebrew Scriptures (such as Genesis 22, Psalm 22, and Daniel 9:26).
Good Friday is good, because we see the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who saw all the sinfulness of this world, come to us in the midst of our fear, pain, and anxiety. The one who stretched out His arm with His might hands came to comfort us with those strong arms and hands.
So, on that terrible Friday 2,000 years ago, Jesus opened His arms for us. We are the feral raccoons, rooting around in garbage and attacking the God who loves us. He took the punishment we deserved, holding back God’s wrath for those of us who will believe.
Yet this same God who took on His own wrath, with those same strong, mighty, scarred arms, reaches out to us to hold us and comfort us.
When we look at the cross, we see God opening His arms to us.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28, NIV
Christ has freed us from sin by His sacrifice. He has saved us from God’s wrath and freed us to live for Him.
He said to them, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!”
Matthew 21:13, CSB
Christ has freed us from sin and man-made religion, giving us the will and desire to seek God over personal gain and to love others with the love of Jesus.
As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
Luke 19:41-42, CSB
Christ has freed us, weeping over our sin and ignorance, calling us to live in His light. Turn to His light and be freed from the shadow of sin and pride.
For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
Galatians 5:13, CSB
Christ has freed us, to be free from the clutches of sin and to love others with the love of God.
“No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their vindication is from me.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
Isaiah 54:17, CSB
God is with us by His Spirit, and He reminds us of the grace and forgiveness we have received, reminding us of His Word and promises.
No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13, CSB
God cares for us and provides for us. Even in our sinfulness, He still wants to help us in overcoming temptation and sin by the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit within us.
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a simple man of God 