NOTHING LACKING

SIN, SACRIFICE, FORGIVENESS, and REMISSION

What delicious freedom we've been given in Christ!

Today I stake my claim in the hearts of my beloved believing brothers and sisters... 

YOU ARE FORGIVEN FOREVER, and NO NEVER EVER WILL OUR LORD REMEMBER YOUR SINS AGAIN.

So, I say think about that; is it possible that our loving God has no memory of sin on your behalf? If you have been forgiven of past sins could it be that He is only aware of the sins that you are yet to commit? Does He view only the sins that you have not confessed?

Here are two questions I pose to you today:

You and I both know that the standards of the righteousness of God are so far beyond our reach that mankind could never satisfy; therefore is it truly possible to satisfy God in the way of confession of sin according to His Standards? Do we not fall short even in our thought life daily, and at most momentarily?

So how then is it possible to reach the standards of God in the area of confession and recognition of sin?

1 John 1:9 says,

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

With that verse in mind let's go for a ride of redemption...

Under Old Testament Law  God established a government order with His people Israel that is about 1300 pages long in my bible, of which I will condense to maybe 13 lines in 'now' day terms, and it went like this:

You are sinful people, even your thoughts are sinful all day long, therefore you must bring to Me the LORD your God a sacrifice of blood by way of 'certain animals'. Once you have done this I will forgive and remove your sins and remember them no more. Then you will be clean once again. You are to do this annually.

What happened next:

Johnny and Beckie (don't mind the names:) along with the whole house of Israel continued to sin as all humans do, over and over again, and therefore they had to go yearly to get their sins forgiven and removed by blood again and again. Now, Johnny and Beckie lost sight many 'a' time to do this 'work' and sometimes even years and years passed bye where they forgot all about God's plan of forgiveness for them... in other words they had a lot of  I OWE U's to God.

God, who before time began, knew that this wouldn't go over so well with humanity because as all humans do, we fall short.

This is why He made a great plan before time to DO THE JOB HIMSELF!

So, after 400 years of silence from the fathers and prophets of God (because obviously that plan was never going to work that way) who do you think shows up on the scene?

HIS NAME IS JESUS! 

THE LAMB OF GOD

Hebrews 9:2 says,

According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

(or we can also say forgiveness) 

What is forgiveness and remission?

It's a mutual understanding between two people yet coming from the One who is in Charge, that all guilt and blame is pardoned, removed and sent away.

Now, could God have done this for you and me without sending His Son as a sacrifice?

Yes and No

Yes, because God could have set it ALL up differently, but NO because He is Held to His own Word and in His Law He declared it had to be a spotless lamb without blemish (sin). His Law declares His instructions, it was the blue print, the in's and out's for what must take place for man's sin.

God's plan wasn't so much that man needed to change his sinful ways as much as it was to show man he couldn't 'do it', satisfy God without the intervention and completion of God Himself!

So here's the BIG CONTRAST

or should I say Completion

All that God established with Johnny and Beckie under the Old Testament Laws was imperfect, not because God was scratching His head and realized it couldn't work, but because Johnny and Beckie would undoubtedly sin 'AGAIN'. So, God foreknowing He would establish His laws and bylaws for the forgiveness of sin in the body and blood of His spotless LAMB, did exactly that. Only this time it was perfect and complete... NOTHING LACKING, and Johnny and Beckie would no longer have to take trips to the forgiveness altar again and again as they use to... and what do you think this did to Johnny and Beckie?

AHA, it sent them running and skipping and jumping and doing cartwheels, and back-flips, and headstands, and tree climbing, and singing and dancing, whistling, laughing, smiling, and twirling and whirling around and around.

BUT, sadly an evil thing crept in and told them they had to go back to what they use to do because getting forgiveness from God still required a constant work on their behalf. Of course when this evil thing told them that he did it in a very inconspicuous manner by adding a little here and a little there, just enough to place them back in there old ways of working to get Gods forgiveness, yet not knowing that's what they were doing. 

So, as it were Johnny and Beckie forgot how to run and skip and jump and do cartwheels, and back-flips, and headstands, and tree climbing, and the singing and dancing, whistling, laughing, smiling, and twirling and whirling around and around, it all fell to the ground leaving them afraid to pick it up again.

So precious one I ask you what is the dynamic breathtaking difference between Old testament forgiveness and remission and the New Testament Forgiveness and Remission?

I will put it this way; by the blood of bulls, goats, and sheep for forgiveness and removal of sin, it was required continually,

BUT NOW IS THE SON OF GOD GLORIFIED IN THIS

that what was 'once' again and again is now and forever more

'ONCE AND FOR ALL' perfectly complete and FINISHED!

I started this trip down the road of redemption from 1 John 1:9 which said,

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Only God can show man his destructive error (against himself and the ways of God) and in this He leads him to a place of confession; why? Because how can a person receive something if they don't believe they are in need of it. In other words if Johnny and Beckie didn't see the reality that they were in need of Forgiveness because their guilt had them condemned how would they know they needed a Savior to take their place and free them from there deserved punishment?

Then once this confession of heart had come the GREAT PROMISE of God took place within Johnny and Becky, forgiving them of their sin and cleansing them from ALL (past, present and future) their unrighteousness... 'ONCE AND FOR ALL'

This my precious one is a one time removal of sin and a one time restoration of righteousness within you, it is not something that has to take place again and again, or else would you rather be like Johnny and Beckie and go back to what once was and lose you dance and your laughter, and your running and skipping of freedom.

Oh yes, there could be theological arguments that could pound against the walls of 'this house' but no fear because Jesus Christ lives here. All the law and the prophets hinge on one truth and that is the LOVE of God towards you, and His LOVE was revealed in the Sacrifice of His Son and the finished work of the CROSS!

I would like to make a STRONG point in the matter of God's children continually going before Him to receive forgiveness of their sins, a sin here a sin there, whatever it may be, and it is this; If you ask for forgivess once you have been fully forgiven 'once and for all' I would say you are in unbelief of the Son of God, and I will go even further than that, you are throwing the Fathers Sons' sacrificial blood back in His face and saying, "This isn't good enough, I am the one who will merit my forgiveness'.

 What then may I say; I encourage you to do this:

When you fall short remember your running and skipping and jumping, and cartwheels, and back-flips, and headstands, and tree climbing, and singing and dancing, whistling, laughing, smiling, and twirling and whirling around and around until you drop to the ground with a bursting heart of gratitude and righteous attitude!

BECAUSE IT'S YOURS FOR THE TAKING IN JESUS NAME

Feel free to post, I would love to hear from you :)