“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” Isa. 43:25 NLT
Heavenly Father, it’s a heart-liberating joy to begin this Saturday remembering your forgetfulness. You promise never again to remember our sins against us. Astonishing. But that’s not all. Because the gospel is true, you now deal with us according to Jesus’ righteousness and reward us according to his perfect obedience. Thank you!
We are fully and eternally accepted in Jesus—no if’s, and’s, or but’s. What a glorious salvation. You are fully satisfied with Jesus’ work on our behalf. It’s not cliché; it’s revolutionary to be able to affirm, “Jesus paid it all.” Our hope, joy, and peace are summarized most wonderfully by German Christians in the 16th Century:
Question: How are you right with God?
Answer: 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. (Heidelberg Catechism, Question and Answer 60)
Hallelujah, many times over. Father, thank you for such a legal, lavish, life-giving salvation. Rescue us in those delusional moments when we forget your forgetfulness; when we act as though Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins wasn’t enough; and when we think there’s something more we can do to gain your acceptance, enjoy your favor, and be welcomed into heaven. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ great and grace-full name.
