Recently we talked about how all of mankind was made a sinner because of the actions of one man. Because of Adam’s disobedience, “many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19). When Adam fell, the entire human race was “constituted or formally established as sinners.” We went on to say that even though all of this seemed to be a little unfair, there is more to the story. We have learned that when it comes to the things of God, things are seldom what they appear to be. We went on to mention that all of mankind has been given the opportunity to be made righteous because of the actions of another man. Because of Jesus’ obedience, “many shall be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). When Jesus died on the cross, the entire human race was given the opportunity to be “constituted or formally established as the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21). And all that we have to do to receive this “abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17) is to make Jesus Christ our Lord and savior. When we make Jesus our Lord and savior, we get all of these free gifts that God has to offer. When we make Jesus our Lord and savior, we get God’s gift of grace, God’s gift of righteousness, and God’s gift of forgiveness. But what you really need to understand is that before God arranged all of this, he had already forgiven us.
“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him” (Daniel 9:9). “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:18-20). “Come now, and let us have an argument together, says the Lord: how may your sins which are red like blood be white as snow? how may their dark purple seem like wool” (Isaiah 1:18)? “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).
Scripture tells that God is merciful and forgiving even though we have rebelled against him. This same God is the one who has compassion on us, who loves to be merciful, and who pardons our sins. This same God is the one who loves to be merciful towards us. He takes our sins and puts them beneath his feet, then throws them into the depths of the sea. No matter the complexity our sins, God will make us as clean as freshly fallen snow. And though our sins may be blood red, God will make them as white as wool. Because God cannot stay angry with us, he has set his love upon us. God is the one who takes away our sins for his own sake and no longer remembers them.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them” (Psalm 103:8-18).
God is merciful and gracious towards us. God is full of kindness, love, and pity. God is slow to anger and does not hold a grudge because his anger does not last forever. God is like a father who has pity on his children. He is tender and sympathetic to us who respect, obey, and praise him. With all that mankind has accused God of, which includes plenty mischaracterizations, God has never given us the punishment that our sins deserve nor rewarded us according to our wrongdoings, but instead has forgiven us. God’s mercy towards us, those who reverence, honor, and worship him, is as great as the heavens are above the earth. God has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. The mercy of the Lord and his loving-kindness is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting for those who love him.
We pray that today’s devotional will help you to understand that God has done his part and has already forgiven you. Now, you need to do your part and just
receive the free gift of forgiveness. We also pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it. If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well. Amen.
Enjoy your blessings - KW
