Forgiveness

Psalm 99 calls Israel to “Exalt the Lord our God, worship at His footstool, Holy is He!” He is acknowledged as a just and righteous God who was a “forgiving God to them” though an “avenger of their wrong doings”. God, a holy God, must deal with our sin and we celebrate that He did that for us in Christ.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 11 Corinthians 5:21

I am overwhelmed at the idea of God’s forgiveness of my sins. The costliness of Jesus’ payment for my sin to satisfy God’s holy demand for justice sometimes causes me to literally cower in shame. It is Satan’s ploy and scheme to hold me captive to my past. Still, I never want to be cavalier about what Jesus suffered for me and be guilty of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the cheapening of grace.

In this passion season I come to the foot of the cross again, not cowering in shame, but humbly and joyfully claiming my redeemed status in Christ and the forgiveness of my sin.

“It is wonderful to be forgiven, Jesus. I exalt you today and every day.”