God's Promise of Forgiveness

 Thought for Today - August 15
God's Promise Of Forgiveness
By; Robert A. Searles

     The question is asked - “Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord?, Or who shall stand in his Holy place?” Psalm 24: 3 (KJV).  Since the fall of mankind in Eden, no one has been found to be qualified to stand, in his own righteousness, before God, because the answer to this question, and requirement is - “He  that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity; nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24: 4, 5.

     Only one person has ever qualified to enter the gate of God's holiness, and he alone is righteous among men.  He alone has clean hands and a pure heart, and has not lifted up his  soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  His name is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah who came down from God.  He alone may enter, in his own righteousness, into the presence of God the Father.

     For God has declared that  there is none righteous.  “For as it  is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10 (KJV)  “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of  God.” Romans 3: 23 (KJV)
Thought
The good news is, that there is no sin that God cannot or will not forgive if we will humble ourselves and by faith ask for his forgiveness.  Jesus, while feasting in the house of a Pharisee, forgave a sinful woman, who showed her faith and acceptance of him by washing his feet with her hair, and anointed them with precious ointment. See Luke 7: 36-50 (KJV).  If we expect to be the recipient of God's mercy and forgiveness, we must not hold resentments and grudges against those who have trespassed against us, but we must be willing to forgive as God has forgiven us

    All of mankind carries a heavy burden on his shoulders, and that burden weigh him down,  and causes  him shame, and degradation, and if not removed, will send him to hell.  That burden on the shoulder of all mankind is sin.  Those who continue to carry that heavy burden of sin in their heart, can have no fellowship  with God. And since God created man to enjoy his fellowship,  and when a man's fellowship with his creator is not a fact of his life, then man is like the beast of the earth that perish. God is not willing that any should perish. He has provided a way by which all men and women, boys and girls, can  have the burden of sin removed from them, and their fellowship with him restored.

     Without God's fellowship, men and women, boys and  girls, perish;  families fall apart; nations and empires crumble.  It is almost impossible today to turn on the television or log on to the internet without seeing someone with a gun or weapon in his hand ready to kill, or to witness someone in bed with another person's wife or husband, committing adultery, or hearing filthy blasphemous words being broadcast for all to hear.  How could a Holy God have fellowship with that kind of trash?

     I fear for our nation that , if it's people do not turn from their wicked ways and get back to the business of fellowship with God. Who has made provision for  all who will accept his offer of salvation.  God is more willing to forgive than we are to be forgiven.  God has promised us forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with him if we will only accept his  terms.

     What are God's terms?  They are – to humble ourselves; pray; turn from our wicked ways; seek God; Then God is faithful to keep his covenant with men.  God hears; forgives sin; heals; the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger; plenteous in mercy; he remembers sin no more; the lost are found and restored to fellowship with him.  God has provided forgiveness to all who will call upon him.and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

     A well known promise from the word of God which has been  repeated and quoted and preached many times, but is truly valid  for the salvation of our nation - “If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2Chronicles 7: 14 (KJV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all
 unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9 (KJV)

     “The  Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever.  He hath not  dealt with us according to our iniquity.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far  hath he removed our transgressions from us.”. Psalm 103: 8 -12 (KJV)

     “And they shalt teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, sayeth the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity; and I will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31: 34

     How wonderful for us to have God remember our sins no  more!  God has provided  a way that  his promise of forgiveness may be fulfilled through his only begotten son, the Lord  Jesus Christ.  Christ died for our sins according to the   scriptures, he was buried and rose  again the third day, according to the scriptures, he ascended into heaven-and is now our high priest interceding for us.  He will come again  at God's appointed time to restore all kingdoms and nations to himself.

Whosoever shall call  on the name of the Lord shall be saved.