Our Sin Is Forgiven, But Not Forgotten!

"Original sin cannot be extirpated from us; it springs up in us as long as we live. Nevertheless we are bound to resist it to our utmost strength, and to cut it down unceasingly."  - Martin Luther

Although it may appear cut and dried, sin can be a tricky thing to understand. The first thing we must understand is that it never goes away. We are born into it, and die with it. It is there, forever a part of our makeup; just lurking around the corner throughout our lives.

It (sin) is not affected by the number of times you might read your Bible, attend church, or help out at the senior center. It's something that all humanity has in common, no matter where you were born, or your state in life. None can escape it, or cover it up. You, me, everyone, are sinners.

God is well aware of our state. He knows that we, on our own accord, could not do one thing about it. Sin is a horrible thing. It is ugly and relentless. But fortunately for us, God is willing to pardon our sin. I'm not talking about gently pushing it to one side, but literally tossing sin away as far as he can. No one else could do this for us.

This includes sin that has been festering for years. When God pardons sins, they are gone right there and then. Not just this sin or that sin, but all sins! They are totally obliterated (Isaiah 43:25). This should make you feel a little better about sin. Still, it raises the question, "Does this mean that God has forgotten our sins?"

No, he hasn't. Think about it. There is not one thing that slips past God's knowledge. He never suffers bouts of forgetfulness. What we have done (sins committed) hasn't been forgotten. What I can tell you though, is that the fear of punishment has been lifted. Our sins have been blotted out of the memory of his anger, though not out of the memory of his knowledge.

As with a condemned man on death row who has been granted a last minute reprieve, so it is with us. We are no longer under the condemnation of our sins. However, we must never forget that this doesn't mean the essence and existence of sin has been removed. The Spirit of sin still remains, though its power has been eliminated.

By pardoning our sin, God has taken it away. How? God reached across the wide abyss separating us from Him through His Son. The Lord took our sins and laid them on Christ, who carried them away. Thus, the pardon or forgiveness of our sins was accomplished through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross (Hebrews 9:22).

The pardon of sin is specific to God. No one can forgive sin except He against whom it is committed (Jeremiah 33:8). He has promised that you and I can know, and have fellowship with, Him today, and all eternity, through Jesus Christ. Our forgiveness can only be attained by the merits of Christ, and the grace of the gospel.

Scripture: 1 John 1:9; John 3:16;  Philippians 3:12; 1 Timothy 2:5; Isaiah 55:7

Prayer: Dear Jesus, You came into the world to save me, and for that I am eternally grateful, amen.

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey