On Sunday, we’ll look at the account of Jesus’ appearance to His disciples on the Sunday He was raised from the dead (John 20:19-23). It must have made quite an impression! On that day He sent them into the world to proclaim the message of forgiveness. God’s heart longed to forgive. Christ’s work paid the debt. But people must hear and receive it. For those who have received Him and His grace, there are four Old Testament passages that describe the extent of our forgiveness. I first learned these from Jerry Bridges’ book Transforming Grace.  Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” If you get on a plane heading North eventually you’ll cross the North Pole and begin heading South. But East and West are different, if you keep going East it’ll never turn into West. They are an “infinite” distance apart. God has completely removed our sins from us.  Isaiah 38:17 “You have put all my sins behind Your back.” When something is behind our back, it is out of our sight. Do you ever look at your former sins? God doesn’t! They are behind His back!  Micah 7:19 “You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” To hurl means to throw it as far as you can. For them to be in the depths of the sea indicates they are unreachable. That’s what God did with our foolish, rebellious choices. He wanted them gone…for good!  Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He Who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Blot out is a legal term meaning they’re removed from the record book. Remember no more means He doesn’t bring them up against us relationally. While we can be “historians” with each other’s sins, God never is like that! He has dealt with them – once for all – on the cross. They do not affect our legal standing or our relationship!

Beloved, soak in this for just a moment. YOU are forgiven. Really! In the light of this grace, let us live with Joy. Humility. Mercy. Integrity. And above all Worship. What a God! Oh, and one more thing… Spread the Word!!

Guest Blogger: Pastor Bart Bouman