Forgiven!! 10/25/2012

"There sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.  And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary." Heb 10:17-18

If we were to think about our needs and think beyond those things pertaining to the body such as food, air, water and shelter, we would sooner or later get around to our critical need for forgiveness.  Once we become aware that God exists and that He has expectations for us and once we realize that we operate outside of those expectations, we realize that we need forgiveness.  Once we fall in love with Him and realize He loved us since before we existed, we realize that we need forgiveness.  Once we realize that there are benefits for obedience and consequences for a lack of obedience, we realize that we need forgiveness.

In ancient times, this realization existed among the Hebrews.  Once understood, they obeyed God by sacrificing bulls, goats and birds to mitigate their sin.  It is important to know that full forgiveness was not yet available to them but simply rolled forward for them.  These practices were designed to pave the way for the coming and sacrificing of the Messiah, the only Sacrifice adequate enough to create the possibility of forgiveness.

Beloved, the amazing news is that Jesus the Messiah did come and did provide the ultimate sacrifice.  In so doing, he did away with the need to slaughter animals to mitigate our sins.  His one time sacrifice was perfect for all time and covers all who avail themselves of it by giving Christ headship over their lives.  When this is sincerely done through hearing the word, believing it, recognizing that we sin and repenting of it, confessing that Jesus is the son of God and our savior and being baptized for the remission of those sins, we do indeed receive forgiveness of those sins and become members of God's family. Once done, forgiveness becomes perpetual as long as we continue to pursue godly lives.  What blessed peace there is in knowing that our greatest need has been provided for by our heavenly Father.

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee