forgiveness of sin | Paul the Poke

Archive for forgiveness of sin

Four Men Tear Up a Roof… Forgiveness

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel with tags cross, death, Forgiveness, forgiveness of sin, God the Father, Jesus Christ, judgment, just, justice, sin, transgressions on February 5, 2023 by paulthepoke

Memory Verse: Mark 2:10-11 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”

Scripture: Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:18-26

Object Lesson: Imagine a world where if you break any traffic law that you have to pay a ten million dollar ($10,000,000) fine. If you are unable to pay the fine, you are sentenced to death. Regardless of the infraction, this is the just punishment.

Even if you run a stop sign, drive under the influence, or go two miles per hour over the speed limit, enforcement and punishment are consistent and there are no exceptions. The system is absolutely just.

If this were really the case, the roads would be empty. So you run a stop sign and the camera takes a picture of your infraction. The police come and haul you away to jail. You are waiting for trial and pending sentence. You know you did it. As you are cuffed and transferred to the judge in the court, a complete stranger comes in on your behalf and pays your fine. He plops down $10,000,000 on your behalf. Your debt has been paid.

Justice has been served in that the fine has been paid. You could not afford the fine, but the judge accepts the payment of the fine by this gentleman on your behalf. You are spared death and your life has been pardoned.

Doctrinal Emphasis: Forgiveness

Key Theme: Sin is forgiven once and for all.

The primary word for forgiveness in the New Testament is aphiemi/ἀφίημι. It means to remit or forgive debts or sins. It involves the complete removal of the cause or offence. This remission is based upon the vicarious and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ. Jesus took our place. Definition provided by Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

Only God can forgive sins. The Pharisees and scribes of the day knew this all too well in Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:18-26, Matthew 9:2-8. This is the reason they took such offence when Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic. As far as they were concerned, this was a blasphemous act and speech by Jesus. In their eyes, He was an ordinary man and not God. He was not even a member of the religious structures of the day. No mere man can forgive sins.

Jesus is not just an ordinary man. Jesus is God and He has the ability to forgive sins.

On an individual level, the forgiveness of sins is complete and distant. Psalm 103:12 states “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Nations and individuals are forgiven of their sins. Israel’s sins corporately are forgiven in Psalm 85:2, “Thou didst forgive the iniquity of Thy people; thou didst cover all their sin.” This is also stated in Jeremiah 36:3b in reference to the house of Judah, “…then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Personally, we have to be forgiven because we are all born sinners. Ephesians 2:1 tells us that we are all spiritually dead. This is part of our family tree passed down by Adam.

Fortunately, we have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of trespasses and sins, for His name’s sake (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, 1 John 2:12).

The same concept is articulated in the Old Testament on personal level in…

Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

The forgiveness of sins does not mean that we are free to do whatever we want without consequence. We should not choose to abuse the work of the cross. Paul shuts down this argument in Romans 6:1b-2. “…Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

Jesus’ work on the cross is clearly an act of grace and mercy towards sinful man. Honestly, is this any way to respond to a Man who suffered and died a horrible death on our behalf because of all of our sins?

What if the roles were reversed in the sense that you had bailed someone out of deep trouble? What if that person (the one you bailed out of trouble) chose to continue the behavior that landed them in trouble? What would you think if the person you spared continued to live in a sinful manner? After all, you were willing to pay the fine with your life for the sinner.

Have some empathy, put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. Try to look at this issue from His view…

There are consequences for our bodily actions. Physically, we die. The wage of sin is death. If God did not punish sin, He would fail to be just.

Give the Man His due respect…

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

Leave a comment »

The New Covenant

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel with tags blood, Communion, cross, cup, Ephesians 2, forgiveness of sin, Gentiles, Israel, Jeremiah 31, Jesus Christ, Jews, new covenant, sin on December 11, 2022 by paulthepoke

Scripture: Acts 15:1-34

Object Lesson: What is a covenant?

In today’s vernacular, loosely, a covenant is a contract, agreement or a treaty. It depends on the context. It is an agreement that one person agrees to do something, usually if some other person fulfills a condition.

This is the Old Testament word berith: a covenant, treaty, alliance, or league. Simply put, it is an agreement. From God’s perspective, a divine constitution or ordinance with signs or pledges.

As people, humanity struggles as covenant keepers. We are broken sinners.

The covenants that God made with Israel differed than the agreement described above. God made promises to Israel that were not dependent on anything that Israel did. God takes the initiative. He draws up the terms and defines the terms. God guarantees their keeping. Israel does nothing. God swears by His own Word.

Key Theme: The Power of the Blood of Christ

The New Covenant is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34. This everlasting covenant is made with nation Israel. God is the initiator and He is the one to will it to happen. A regenerated heart and mind and forgiveness of sin are promised as part of the agreement.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

So how does this covenant with nation Israel affect us in the Church Age? The Church and Israel are separate. Nation Israel has yet to receive the benefit of the New Covenant. It is yet future in the Millennial Kingdom. How can this arrangement apply to us? The answer is in the blood of Christ.

Jesus’ death on the cross ushers in and ratifies the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25).

It is His blood that is the covenant. The shedding of innocent blood allows for the forgiveness of sin. This is acceptable to God (Hebrews 9:14). According to the Law, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of innocent blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:16). Christ’s blood is the bleach that removes the stain of sin. As believers, we get the spiritual benefits of the agreement when we believe that Jesus died as payment for sin. As believers, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:12-16 instructs us that we were separate from Christ and excluded from nation Israel. Translation, we were not a benefactor of the New Covenant. The text teaches us that we were without hope. Thankfully, we were brought near by the blood of Christ. It is the blood of Christ that unifies the two groups (Jew and Gentile) into one group.

Ephesians 2:12-16 …that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Romans 11:17 indicates that Gentiles were grafted into the root of the olive tree. We, Gentiles, were grafted because other original branches, Israel, were broken off. Gentiles get the full benefit of the root.

As we take communion and we hear the words, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” These words are a reminder that we, believers, have the spiritual benefits of the New Covenant: teaching of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sin. Communion is in memory of the work of Christ. He died once and for all to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28). It is to be taken seriously (1 Corinthians 11:25-29).

We are to do this until He comes again.

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

3 Comments »

Reconciled in Christ to the Father… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags blood, forgiveness of sin, glory, God the Father, In Christ, Jesus Christ, reconciliation, sacrifice on May 26, 2022 by paulthepoke

To be a Christian means being reconciled ‘in Christ’ to the Father–the only way at all to be reconciled. It means to lay down our lives, how we want to live, and to allow Christ to live through us instead.

We do not transform Christ into our image, hence 36,000 different denominations. We transform into Christ’s image, which is glory, from one level of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18) as we surrender our will (of the old sinful nature) for His will (the new nature of His glory) in love. His glory makes the church one.

To truly belong to Christ, we must be willing to give up everything. We can’t perfect the old nature. We must die to it and receive a new nature: the nature of God’s glory. In dying, we find His life.

Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice so that You could give us your garment of glory to wear, that we may not be found naked and ashamed when You come for us. Thank You for the blood You shed for us for forgiveness of sins, and for your body broken for us so we can have healing. Thank You for taking our sins and shame upon Yourself and killing the old nature of sin, and for reconciling us to the Father in You (in Christ).

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:25-27)

Blessings to everyone!

Leave a comment »

Sabbatical Year/Shemitah, Part 3

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags banking, Deuteronomy 15, Deuteronomy 23, Ephesians 1, forgiveness of sin, Gospel, Grace, interest free, Israel, Jesus, John 1, loaning, mercy, Revelation 21, Romans 6, Sabbatical year, Shemitah on October 3, 2021 by paulthepoke

Deuteronomy 15:1-2 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.

In today’s world, the verses above are radical financial and economic concepts. All debt, regardless of size, is forgiven at the end of every seventh year. Imagine, a clean financial slate.

Think about how these verses would influence lending and borrowing practices. Larger loans would occur early in the seven year cycle. Debt structure would not look like it does today. The 30 year mortgage would be toast. Loans would likely be much smaller. Personal savings would be promoted. People would be more inclined to live within their means.

Think of all the debt and credit offering practices: home mortgages, car loans, student loans, and credit cards just to mention a few. Debt is oppressive and restrictive to freedom. Consider how each of the above would be financed or paid if debt was forgiven at the end of every seven years. Consider the change in personal spending habits.

Creditors would be more careful how they loaned their money. There would be less loaning of money. Creditors would likely make less irresponsible loans to customers who do not have the means to pay. If implemented today, debt bubbles would be a thing of the past. At the end of every seven years, everyone would be debt free. If debt payments remained at the end of the cycle, it would be forgiven. Poverty would likely be diminished significantly.

Responsibility would be increased on both the lender and the borrower. These practices would significantly cut into corporate banking profits and affect their stock prices. We likely would not see these behemoth corporate banks that dominate our economic landscape today.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.

Interest free lending would promote national unity and good will toward your fellow countryman. It is a matter of looking after your neighbor and brother. Financial collaboration would be an outcome. People would be more interested in the success of others.

God does not want us to take financial advantage of our fellow man. These loaning practices were built into society by God. He understands the capacity of greed demonstrated by humanity. Don’t shaft your neighbor.

These financial concepts are nowhere to be seen in today’s economic world. Most people are not aware these statutes exist. Would our lives be economically easier if this were in place today? What a concept, it is a universal blessing from God if one loans interest free to their countryman.

The ultimate example of God’s release or remission is in His Son. Jesus forgives us of our debt, sin.

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Our transgressions are forgiven as a matter of grace and mercy. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

He has paid our debt without charging us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is His payment that allows us to possess eternity in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).

Leave a comment »

Blood of Jesus on the Cross, Pōhutukawa… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel, Rodna Epley with tags 1 Corinthians 11, blood, Blood of Jesus on the Cross, creation, cross, forgiveness of sin, God the Father, Jesus Christ, John 6, New Zealand, New Zealand Christmas Bush, Psalm 19, Pōhutukawa on April 23, 2021 by paulthepoke

This earth truly does reveal God’s glory everywhere in creation, and it tells the story of Jesus. Everything God made (and He made everything through Jesus) has His signature on it.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

This beautiful flower is called “Blood of Jesus on the Cross” and is native to New Zealand. It grows on a tree called the Pōhutukawa or the New Zealand Christmas bush. The flower itself is remarkable. Not only is there a cross in the center, but the blood of Jesus is displayed in the mass of filaments that splay out from the cross as if to shower upon the whole world. We have redemption through Jesus’ blood, the forgiveness of sins. Also notice the tiny anthers on the end of each red filament that contain the pollen. They look like tiny pieces of flesh or bread that was broken for the life of the world. Jesus was the bread of life broken and multiplied to feed all who want eternal life.

Because of the cross we can now be reconciled to the Father through Christ Jesus.

“Then Jesus said…Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:53-58)

“The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23,26)

“He (Jesus) who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Leave a comment »

Honest Scales, Part 1… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags forgiveness of sin, God the Father, honesty, Jesus Christ, paralytic, scales, sins on November 10, 2020 by paulthepoke

Using “honest scales” as Jesus always did will bring an end to any suffering and transform it into light, meaning the good thing that is desired will manifest.

Just before Jesus healed the paralytic man, He told him, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Everyone knew the intent for letting down the paralyzed man through the roof to where Jesus was preaching. It was for physical healing, so that the paralyzed man could walk. Yet the first thing Jesus said to the man after He saw their faith was that the man’s sins were forgiven.

The scribes who were sitting near Jesus began reasoning amongst themselves saying, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus knew that what He said would provoke the scribes. In fact, He was setting everyone up to receive the revelation of who He is and what He could do for them. Those who did not have “ears to hear” would by consequence be further blinded. When light enters a room, it exposes everything. That which is exposed will become light unless it chooses to run into the shadows with the darkness. Jesus was about to prove the Father was working through Him and gave Him the authority on earth to forgive sins.

So Jesus pulls out the “honest scales”. When we weigh something, we know its value. If we place oranges on the scale at the grocery store we can estimate its value by its weight and then we can purchase it if we have enough money. The same is true for spiritual things. If we don’t know what something weighs, then we place it on God’s honest scales and we know if we have enough faith to purchase it, so to speak. This is what Jesus did during the scene with the paralyzed man and the scribes.

Jesus said to the paralytic, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?” (vs 9). The obvious answer is that it’s easier to say “Your sins are forgiven you” because you don’t have to prove that. In fact, you can’t prove that unless you can weigh it somehow.

Forgiveness is invisible and can’t be physically proven except to the person who is forgiven. He has a peace radiating within him and all around him instantly upon being forgiven. The weight of unforgiveness, which can be felt, is lifted off of him. There is also proof of forgiveness in the way that life begins to transform, but physically proving someone has been forgiven is perhaps impossible. Unless forgiveness can be measured.

Jesus does measure it by answering His own question. It’s easier to say “Your sins are forgiven” since it can’t be easily proven. So Jesus says what is more difficult to say, which must be proven, “Rise up, take up your bed and walk.”

Since only God can make someone rise up and walk when they are paralyzed, when the man rose up and walked in front of all who were in the room, the revelation that Jesus could also forgive sins dropped into the minds of those who chose to remain in the light, those who had ears to hear God. For those who were hard-pressed against Jesus from the start, they remained blind and the revelation did not drop in.

Leave a comment »

Cry Purple

Posted in Christine "Clarity" McDonald, Uncategorized with tags Cry Purple, drug addiction, Ephesians 2, forgiveness of sin, Grace, homelessness, love your neighbor, mental health, prostitution, redemption, Romans on June 22, 2018 by paulthepoke

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Featuring Christine “Clarity” McDonald

Cry Purple, by Christine McDonald, is the story of the author’s long journey from nearly two decades of homelessness, street-corner prostitution, crack addiction, and many stints in jail to her present life of total blindness, motherhood, and happiness.

The first two-thirds of the book tell the grim story of her youthful unhappiness, how and when she got into prostitution and drug addiction, the horrendous levels of violence that she and some of her fellow prostitutes suffered, and how the drugs eventually reduced her to an almost animal-like state. It was only when she hit rock bottom that she finally found the will to seek help and change her ways.

However, after getting clean and then engaged, she had numerous other difficulties and sorrows ahead of her: losing her sight due to a disease and having both her eyeballs removed, having a special-needs daughter that she had to give up for adoption due to her inability to care for her, and watching her relationship with her children’s father dissolve.

She currently lives in the St. Louis, Missouri area with her young son, Ricky. She practices an open adoption relationship with her daughter’s adoptive parents. She loves doing motivational speaking, and she does all she can to help and to advocate for ex offenders, addicts, and prostituted and trafficked women. One of her largest passions is educating people out side of these circumstances to help them have a better understanding of the barriers society has placed before these under served populations to put their lives back together.

Filming for “Cry Purple” the movie is set to begin in October 2018. Interviews and writing are currently being completed. Release of the movie is tentatively set for sometime in 2019.

“Love your neighbor… ALL of ’em!” -Christine “Clarity” McDonald

To contact Christine directly send a E mail to:

Christine.crypurple@gmail.com

http://www.crypurple.com/

To purchase at Amazon.com, click on link below.

Leave a comment »

Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags forgiveness of sin, John 8, judgment, prayer, sin on August 17, 2017 by paulthepoke

John 8:7 And as they continued to ask him, He stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Look at him over there, he drinks every day. We don’t want him around us or in our church. He is a sinner. Look at him, I heard he’s smoked weed. We need to stay away from him, he’s a sinner. See that guy? He’s been to jail. I don’t know why, but he’s obviously a sinner & breaks the law. And look at that one, he’s divorced & I’m sure he must not have been a good husband. Stay clear of him, for sure a sinner. Is that guy a sinner? Yep, and so are you for judging him. No sin is greater or less than another & only one person has the right to judge us. Am I a sinner? Yep. I sin every day & was that guy that I just described at different points in my life. Does everyone know my story? Nope. We all sin every day. Nobody is perfect. Instead of judging others & thinking we are better, let’s pray for each other instead…

Have an accepting weekend my friends!!!

Leave a comment »

Sabbatical Year/Shemitah, Part 3

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy with tags banking, Deuteronomy 15, Deuteronomy 23, Ephesians 1, forgiveness of sin, Gospel, Grace, interest free, Israel, Jesus, John 1, loaning, mercy, Revelation 21, Romans 6, Sabbatical year, Shemitah on October 26, 2014 by paulthepoke

In today’s world, the verses above are radical financial and economic concepts. All debt, regardless of size, is forgiven at the end of every seventh year. Imagine, a clean financial slate.

Think of all the debt practices: home mortgages, car loans, student loans, and credit cards just to mention a few. Debt is oppressive and restrictive to freedom. Consider how each of the above would be financed or paid if debt was forgiven at the end of every seven years. Consider the change in personal spending habits.

Responsibility would be increased on both the lender and the borrower. These practices would significantly cut into corporate banking profits and affect their stock prices.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.

The ultimate example of God’s release or remission is in His Son. Jesus forgives us of our debt, sin. John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Our transgressions are forgiven as a matter of grace and mercy. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. He has paid our debt without charging us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is His payment that allows us to possess eternity in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).

3 Comments »

Isaiah 6:6-7 Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, the Old Testament

Posted in Isaiah with tags Angels, forgiveness of sin, God, Gospel, Grace, isaiah 53, Isaiah 6, Jesus, mercy, Old Testament, Psalm 32, Psalm 51, salvation, seraphim on November 25, 2012 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 6:6-7 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

The events above are taking place in the presence of God in the throne room of Heaven. The concept of burning coal from the altar in front of God in Heaven is consistent with the Aaronic ordinances given in Leviticus 16:12 “He shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil. What is done on earth is a picture of Heaven. This brings meaning to the phrase, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”.

your iniquity is taken away… The Hebrew word for iniquity is ‘avon. As defined by Strong’s Concordance it means: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment/consequence of iniquity.

Burning coal is a symbol of cleansing. Fire purifies. Sin is taken away and removed in the presence of God. This is the Old Testament. Critics have often stated that removal and forgiveness of sin are New Testament ideas. Critics will say the God of the Old Testament is a mean ogre who is cruel and punishing, ready to crush with His thumb. There are many examples of mercy, grace, and forgiveness of sin in the Old Testament. These are Biblical concepts from beginning to end.

Psalm 32:1-2 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! These verses were written by David. He is clearly a man who had committed a transgression or two (murder, lust, adultery) in the events surrounding Bathsheba. He understood that God was merciful and gracious when it came to sin. In Psalm 32:5, David confessed his sins, and then You forgave my sins.

Psalm 51 is written with David’s adultery being at the forefront and focus of the Psalm. David knows he is guilty and he has sinned against God. David is in despair and desperate. Verse 1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. He also knows God can take care of his short comings. Verse 7,9 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. There is plea bargaining and begging. David is playing “Let’s Make a Deal”. Verse 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation…

Critics will argue Isaiah was written after Jesus’ death and resurrection to fit and fulfill prophecy and doctrine. Unfortunately for the critic, Isaiah was copied in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, approximately 330 years before the birth of Christ (Israel My Glory, November/December 2012, p. 8). Isaiah 53 foreshadows Jesus’ work on the cross. Verse 5-6, 11b, 12b But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.

God has always been and will always be merciful, gracious, and forgiving.