“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 10:17-18
Heavenly Father, though I often get quite frustrated with my forgetfulness, it is with great joy and unparalleled peace I begin this day remembering your forgetfulness. According to your Word, you will never again remember our sins and lawless acts against us. You will never ever deal with us according to our sins or reward us according to our iniquities. For on the cross, you dealt with Jesus as our sins deserve and you punished him in response to our iniquities. We worship and praise you for such astonishing generosity.
But that’s not all, Father. Because the gospel is true, you now relate to us as though we are just as righteous as Jesus… for you have hidden our lives in your beloved Son… you have covered us with his righteousness. Every day, and eternally, you will reward us as though Jesus’ obedience to your commands is ours—as though we ourselves have been perfect sons and daughters. What an exchange! What a salvation! What a God!
Therefore, with humility and awe we remember the gospel today, laying claim to these precious and transforming promises:
Q – “How are you right with God? A – Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.” (16th Century, Heidelberg Catechism – Question 60). Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation!
Father, thank you for such a legal, lavish and lively redemption. Rescue us when we forget your forgetfulness… when we act as though Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins wasn’t enough… when we think there is something more we can do to gain your acceptance and enjoy your favor. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ exalted name.
