Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more – Hebrews 10:17

God is everywhere in the Bible affirmed to be omniscient, which means all-knowing. There is nothing that goes on in the universe of which He is not aware, there is nothing that has happened or that will happen that He does not know. We live our lives coram Deo, “before the face of God.”

Yet here is a purposeful statement from the one and only Omniscient, declaring that He will remember the sins of His people no more – a promise of such total forgiveness that there is no trace left of the sins committed. How can this be?

The truth of the cross is that God the Father remembered every single (even seemingly small) sin that every believer has, or ever will, commit and punished Jesus Christ for each and every one of them, in our stead. Not only that, but Jesus’ righteousness is imparted to us so that we stand before God truly spotless.

God does not remember our sins, as a vendetta against us, because Christ took them upon Himself, for us. The penalty has been paid and so the debt, the transgression is forgotten.

Are you in need of forgiveness? Are you guilty of sin? Then run to the cross, because there every sin is forgiven, every transgression is forgotten. Only the blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient to wash away the stain of your sin from the memory of the omniscient God. (From “A Good Thing”)

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

 

Matthew 18:21-22

 

 

God’s holiness demands justice, but His love shows mercy.

 

A little boy who was visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods but he could never hit his target. As he came back to his grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse, he took aim and let it fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead.

 

The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all but she said nothing. After lunch that day, his grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes.

 

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, he finally couldn’t stand it anymore. He confessed to his grandma that he’d killed the duck. “I know, Johnny,” she said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

 

Could your Christian life be compared to Johnny’s life? Always living in fear your sin or failure will be found out? Why live in slavery to sin when you can enjoy the freedom Christ offers you?

 

As His children, He wants us to come to Him and confess our sins. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” There is no sin in our lives that God doesn’t already know about. He was there when you committed it!

 

Many Christians avoid repenting for their sins because they fear God’s wrath and judgment. Although God is a holy God and hates sin, He loves you as His child. Like Johnny’s grandmother, He stands ready to forgive you if you only ask.

 

Are you “hiding” some sin from God right now? Friend, realize He knows about it and more than anything He longs to forgive and restore you, not punish you. Repent of your sin to God and seek His forgiveness right now. Also, thank Him that as a loving Heavenly Father He offers you forgiveness each time you fall. –Dr. Paul Chappell

A woman in Oregon was caught driving 103 miles per hour with her 10-year-old grandson in the car. When she was stopped by the police, she told them that she was only trying to teach him never to drive that fast. I suppose she wanted him to do as she said, not as she did.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law seemed to have a similar problem. Jesus had a scathing assessment of them: They were spiritually bankrupt. He held these two groups directly responsible for this sad spiritual condition. As the successors of the lawgiver Moses, they were responsible for expounding the law so that people would walk in God’s ways and have a genuine and vibrant relationship with the Lord (Deut. 10:12-13). But their personal interpretation and application of the law became more important than God’s law. They did not practice what they preached. What they did observe was done not to bring glory to God but to honor themselves. Jesus exposed who they were-image managers, posers, and hypocrites.

The test of the effectiveness of following Jesus is not just in what we say but in how we live. Are we telling others God’s Word and doing what it says? Let’s model by words and actions what it means to follow Him.

Christians, remember you bear His dear name,
Your lives are for others to view;
You are living examples-men praise you or blame,
And measure your Savior by you. -Anon.

A good example preaches a powerful sermon.

By Marvin Williams, From Our Daily Bread

Be still, and know that I am God. 
-PSALM 46:10

Having a quiet, patient spirit throughout the day is countercultural in our harried world, but its effects can be life changing for us as well as for others. People notice when we are patient with strangers in line, with our kids at the park, and with our co-workers in meetings, because it is so much more common to show impatience. A patient stillness in attitude, words, and behavior, even in the midst of stress, always stands out.

Author Eugene Peterson reminds us how this kind of radical patience allows room for us to grow closer to others:”When we are noisy and when we are hurried, we are incapable of intimacy-deep, complex, personal relationships.” While an anxious spirit on our part makes others feel more rushed and frustrated, a quiet spirit is likely to calm those around us, making loving interactions more possible. So not only does a patient spirit still the noise of the world so we can enjoy deeper peace, it also helps to still the noise in others’ lives so we can enjoy one another more fully.

When you feel yourself getting anxious or rushed during the day, remember the words “Be still,” and focus on having a peaceful spirit instead of a harried one.–Gary Chapman

One of the first biographies I read after becoming a Christian was that of Charles Spurgeon. His story amazed me and inspired me as a young preacher. What many people don’t know is that he had several physical ailments that forced him to take repeated leaves of absence trying to recover. This led to “fits of depression” as he called them. There were many times when it seemed that he wouldn’t be able to continue on in the ministry. Mr. Spurgeon died at the early age of 57, yet we still marvel today at all that he accomplished. I thought of this as I read the following devotion this morning. I hope you will give it some serious thought, and that you will be encouraged by it.

Preserved to Work’s End
“The LORD stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome”   (Acts 23:11).

Are you a witness for the LORD, and are you just now in danger? Then remember that you are immortal till your work is done. If the LORD has more witness for you to bear, you will live to bear it. Who is he that can break the vessel which the LORD intends again to use?

If there is no more work for you to do for your Master, it cannot distress you that He is about to take you home and put you where you will be beyond the reach of adversaries. Your witness-bearing for Jesus is your chief concern, and you cannot be stopped in it till it is finished: therefore, be at peace. Cruel slander, wicked misrepresentation, desertion of friends, betrayal by the most trusted one, and whatever else may come cannot hinder the LORD’s purpose concerning you. The LORD stands by you in the night of your sorrow, and He says, “Thou must yet bear witness for me.” Be calm; be filled with joy in the LORD.

If you do not need this promise just now, you may very soon. Treasure it up. Remember also to pray for missionaries and all persecuted ones, that the LORD would preserve them even to the completion of their lifework.