How can we understand what God means when He says that He has forgiven our sins? In Old Testament times, God used some very earthy comparisons to describe the character and extent of His forgiveness. Here are a few:
As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:12
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist…..
Isa 44:22
He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Mic 7:19
There are similar statements in Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 38:17, Isaiah 43:25 and Jeremiah 31:34, where God says our scarlet sins will become white as snow, that He will cast our sins behind His back, and wipe out our sins, remembering them no more. Are we getting the message? These words are meant to convince us beyond the slightest doubt that God is serious about dealing with the sin problem we have created, and which has broken our relationship with Him. However, there is more! For us as New Testament Christians, the cross is the ultimate statement of the character and extent of God’s forgiveness of our sin. Paul boldly says:
“…..having forgiven us all our trespasses, (14) by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross”.
Col 2:13(b)
Do these words re-assure you of God’s love and forgiveness? Are you all the more encouraged to press on in striving to be like Christ in character?
– Phil Pratt