Saving His People from Their Sins
Who can save us from our sins? Who can forgive us of our sins? What will cleanse us from our sins? The greatest hurdle in life is that of our sins, our sin problem, our love of sin. Is everyone in this category? Surely for Rom.3:23 shows, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Rom.5:12, states,” Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Isa.59:2, surely shows the predicament humans have found their way into, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” This sounds hopeless, this sounds impossible, it sounds irreparable, so is there any hope? What can we do or what can God do?
The Scriptures will give us a solution, an anecdote, a cordial to taking care of this sin issue we love so much. Since great is our God and mighty in power and His understanding has no limit, (Psalm 147:5), He has designed a way to reconcile the two parties together, sinful man and a Holy God. The ray of hope, comes to us in the first chapter in the gospel of Matthew in 1:21, “For she (Mary) will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” This was the reason and the case for His coming. We can always have trust in the Scriptures to give us guidance, direction, and understanding, and Paul reiterates it by a phrase he uses 5 times, as in 1Tim.1:15, “IT IS A TRUSTWORTHY STATEMENT deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The angel has said it to be sure in Luke 2:11, “For today in the city of David there has been born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
But can He really forgive sins? A Savior is not a Savior if He cannot accomplish that which He has set out to do. Mark 2:5, Jesus says to the paralytic, “Son your sins are forgiven.” The scribes there heard His words and responded in verse 7, “who can forgive sins but God alone.” Theologically they had it right, applicably they had it wrong. Jesus was God incarnate. (John 8:24, John 10:28, Col.2:9) and many other places show Jesus was God incarnate. Man's salvation is now possible thanks to Him! Commentator G.Campbell Morgan states, “While there is much for man to do to work out his salvation with fear and trembling, there is nothing for him to do to make his salvation possible. Everything is done, and now it is possible for God to work in us to will and to work of His good pleasure. “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible, says Math.19:26.
The hymn asks,” What can wash away my sins?” then it states, “nothing but the blood of Jesus.” John 1:7, “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” God's forgiveness not only lifts the burden from our conscience but cleanses the stain from our souls. This cross, this death, this blood of Christ frees us not only from the guilt of sin, but from the habit of sin, from the chains of sin, from the curse of sin, from the filth of sin, and from the death of sin. Our hope of eternal life in heaven has now been accomplished, it is finished, and He has triumphed over the last great enemy, death. The great English Puritan John Owen writes,” The death and blood shedding of Jesus Christ hast wrought, and both effectually procure, for all those that are concerned in it, eternal redemption, consisting in grace here, and glory here after.” Rejoice in Him who delivered you from the domain of darkness and transferred you into the kingdom of His beloved Son in whom you have redemption, the forgiveness of your sins!
Elder Randy Slak
03/08/2023