Forgiveness effectively means to ‘set free’
If I forgive someone, I set them free from the offence
committed.
If a president pardons a criminal, that person escapes
the penalty.
When God forgives, He sets a person free from the guilt
and penalty of sin. As God He has the prerogative to pardon, but as a Just
judge, He executes justice with its just consequences. God’s laws when broken,
have righteous outcomes.
In brief that is stated in Holy Scripture :”The wages of
sin is death”.
So it was God who initiated the way for the family of
Adam to be ‘set free’ from the guilt and consequences of disobedience,
rebellion and ignorant sinning. His way is not by prejudiced pardon or just linked
to feelings of pity. No – His way maintains justice, yet lets the guilty person
‘go free’. How can this be? This theme is highlighted throughout the Bible
narrative of human history.
Adam was expelled from the garden (initial consequence),
God then clothed them in skins. Abraham was an idolator but through faith in
God Almighty he found freedom from such sin by means of a sacrifice dying in
his place. (Genesis 12:8)
Moses communicated the details of freedom for Israelites
– a lamb died instead of the firstborn, and later the animal sacrifice upon the
alter enabled the LORD to say “It shall be forgiven him”. (Leviticus4)
This is why the words of John the baptiser were so
significant :- “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”
(John1:29) John was identifying Jesus as the final lamb for sacrifice,
sufficient to take away the sin of the world! John, as the son of a priest,
knew too well the costliness of sin before God. He would have witnessed so many
lambs being sacrifice for the sins of the people.
Jesus Himself said that He would “give His life as a
ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)
He confirmed that his death (blood shed) was to ratify a
new covenant with God that included the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28).
He explained that the sufferings of death foretold in
Isaiah 53 [“thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin”], were necessary for
the message of repentance and forgiveness to be preached to all the people of
the world. (Luke 24 :44-48)
How then is all this made of value to us ? Let me quote
directly from the Bible – it is so clear in Romans 3:21- 26 (NLT)
“Now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight –
not by obeying the law, but by the way promised
in the scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we
trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this
same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.
For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet
now God in His gracious kindness declares us ‘not guilty’. He has done this
through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent
Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against
us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood,
sacrificing His life for us.
God was being entirely fair and just when He did not punish those
who sinned in former times.
And He is entirely fair in the present time when He declares
sinners to be right in His sight because they believe in Jesus.”
This all makes Jesus Christ and His death very special –
in fact it is vital to confess Jesus Christ is the Lord, the Son of God.
He Himself said “If the Son sets you free, you will be
free indeed.” (John 8:36)
May I encourage you to read the Bible, the New Testament
about the Lord Jesus Christ. Check out 1 Timothy 2:5 – freedom for everyone.
Bibles - johnmckee@internode.on.net
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