“If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?” Psalm 130:1
As the saying goes, “Ain’t that the truth!” Nobody who has walked on the face of the earth, other than our Lord and Savior, has not sinned. No one is perfect. As Paul states in his letter to the Romans, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (3:23) That is our common bond.
For God, sin is sin. Man, by necessity because we need laws to govern us and corresponding levels of punishment, is the one who colors sin in shades of grey. Surely murder is worse that a white lie. But God cannot look upon any of it. So what does He choose to do? Turn His back on His children?
No, you know the answer. He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103)and remembers them no more. He sacrificed His Son on the cross who bore the agony of all of our sins so we could all be forgiven, in 33 AD and 2009AD and all dates in between and all dates to come. Paul continues in Romans to say “therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (8:1) Does that mean we can feel free to sin and take advantage of God’s mercy?
No, you know that answer, too. So did Paul. When you accept Christ as Savior and the Holy Spirit begins to dwell in you, your sinful nature begins to morph into a Christ-like behavior. The old falls away and becomes new. Out of gratitude, we want to serve our Lord.
Sure we all will continue to slip up now and then. But we have a Father who forgives, reconciles and restores. All He need from us is an “I’m sorry, Dad.” His answer? “You are forgiven, it”s already forgotten.”
Heavenly Father, we can never fathom the extent of Your mercy or the breadth of Your grace. But we praise you and honor You with our lives. Forgive us when we fall short of Your will and teach us to forgive ourselves and others as You forgive us. Even though there may be consequences for our actions, we know our standing with You is eternal once the sin is confessed. Thank you, thank you dearest Lord for Your death on the cross to make it so. Amen.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says, “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds, ” Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:15-17
