THURSDAY July 6, 2023
The Forgiveness of Sins
“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Acts 13:36-39
King David died. Afterwards, his body experienced corruption, but not Jesus. When Jesus died, after three days He rose from the dead. His body never experienced corruption. He resurrected and was seen by hundreds of His disciples, and then He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9).
Jesus Christ is the name given to us by which we are saved. No one can be saved by any other name: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Everyone who believes in Jesus is justified, meaning “rendered righteous, just or innocent.” The believer is “made righteous––justified by the Lord, cleared of all charges (punishment) related to their sins.” Some preachers like to say the word justified means––“just as if they never sinned.” I love this.
According to the Law of Moses, the Jewish priests had to kill an animal and sprinkle its blood on the mercy seat for only a covering for the people’s sin, but the blood of animals could not take away their sin completely:
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God... (Hebrews 10:11-12).
The blood of Jesus Christ, once and for all, takes away sin! Only in Christ there is redemption––atonement––forgiveness of sins.
I say, “Yes, Devil, sin is terrible––but I remind you that I got it from you! And I remind you, Devil, that everything good––forgiveness and cleansing and blessing––everything that is good I have freely received from Jesus Christ!”
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
