FORGIVEN

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are FORGIVEN, and whose sins are covered – Romans 4:7

One of the wonders of Grace is for a wretched sinner to become a FORGIVEN saint. Grace is God giving to you something that you cannot obtain on your own. Grace is being accepted by God even though you do not deserve it, and are not worthy of it. You receive grace on the basis of your faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith it is impossible to please God. We are forgiven by a holy God simply by believing in Jesus Christ and His death on our behalf. When we place our trust in Him, our slate is wiped clean. It is not possible for us to be forgiven by complying with any law or religious obligation. It was necessary that Christ go to the cross in order that He might establish the basis whereby we can approach God.

When Jesus was praying in Gethsemane, He said, “Father, if it is Your Will, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My Will, but Yours, be done” (Lk.22:42). Meaning: “if it is possible that men can be saved by any other means than My death – if they can be saved by being religious or by somehow gaining their own righteousness – then I do not want to go to the cross, this horrible ordeal.” But it was not possible, and so He went to the cross, died, was buried, and rose again! His death made it possible for Grace to be extended to us all. God had charged us with being sinners and trespassers – rebelling against His law and His will. How could we be justified from those charges? We couldn’t plead innocence, for we were all guilty. And we couldn’t argue being right, being clearly wrong. How, then, could the law be of value to us in our desire to be forgiven? The answer is, it couldn’t: case open and shut. We stood guilty!

If I committed an offence, there is no way I can be forgiven within the law. Repentance or promises of good behaviour or restitution cannot justify me from what’s already done. My “righteous” deeds cannot counterbalance or absolve or erase my guilt. Why is it, then, that in spiritual matters so many people seek to plead innocent before God by virtue of their good works? There are others who respond to their guilt and unrighteousness with regret and fresh resolutions to make amends and turn over a new leaf. But those efforts however sincere, cannot win our forgiveness. Even a whole life of good works cannot atone for a single sin! God’s basis of forgiveness is the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. All of our sin and guilt have been laid to the charge of Jesus Christ, the innocent Lamb, the Perfect One who knew no sin. He bore our guilt. He suffered and died for our sins: “For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor.5:21).

Jesus became sin for us that we might be pardoned through Him. He switched places with us (2Cor.8:9). When God laid on Him the iniquity of us all, Christ received the judgement due and deserved for our sins, which is death (Rom.6:23). He has taken our sin and forgiven us through simple faith and trust in Him: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1Jh.1:7). This cleansing is something the law couldn’t do; it is a provision of Grace! Faith is our only hope. Our good deeds, efforts or works can never earn us forgiveness from God: “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Rom.4:5). God forgives us because of our faith in the finished work that Jesus Christ has done for us. Beloved, place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive your right standing with God as a Gift of His Grace! What a Sweet Salvation we have in Christ Jesus!