God's Promise Of Forgiveness
The question is asked - “Who
shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord?, Or who shall stand in his
Holy place?” Psalm 24: 3 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. “For all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23
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 it may
be on the edge of collapse and annihilation, if it's people do not
turn from their wicked ways and get back to the business of
fellowship with God. Our country, as well as the rest of the world
is sick, and may be ready to experience the judgment of God, which
has been true of all other nations that have tuned their back on
God, But even so, God is merciful and slow to wrath, and he 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
“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
“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
“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.
Confess, believe, seek God and
God's promise of forgiveness will be a reality in each of our lives.
