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atonement

Forgiveness

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As Isaiah encountered the glory, majesty and holiness of the Almighty God, he immediately became aware of his own unworthiness, his own sinfulness. But, God offered atonement for Isaiah’s sins. “Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'” (Isaiah 6:6-7)

Just as He offered forgiveness for Isaiah, God offers forgiveness to us through faith in Jesus Christ. But, we still need to confess our sins to Him. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The result of confessing our sins to God is that God is faithful. He is true to His word and forgives us. He cleanses us of our own unrighteousness. Satan no longer has grounds to accuse us.

There’s another picture of God’s forgiveness found in Zechariah 3:1-7. Here’s my paraphrase of the passage: Joshua the high priest, has returned from captivity in Babylon. He stands before God and Satan in filthy garments. Joshua was there representing the sinful people. Satan was there to accuse him. God was there to judge him. Satan is the prosecuting attorney with a seemingly open and shut case, but Joshua had an advocate. The Advocate, Christ, stood at God’s right hand and silenced all the accusations of Satan. Instead of condemnation, God removed the filthy clothes, representing his sinful nature, and replaced them with clean rich garments. (7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements) This is what Jesus Christ does for us when we confess our sins.

Have you experienced Christ’s forgiveness? If not, why not today?

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Glimpse of His Glory

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In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, . . .”Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips,”. . . (NIV) Isaiah 6:1, 5

As we get a glimpse of His glory and we are awed by His greatness, His majesty, and His love, we can’t help but to see our own ruin. As Isaiah encountered the glory, majesty and holiness of the Almighty God, he reacted by crying out: “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). His reaction was one of utter dispair! He was fearful that having seen God, that he would not survive. He immediately became aware of his own unworthiness.

Compared to a holy God, we are nothing but sin-filled people. But, God offers atonement for our sins, just as he offered atonement for Isaiah. . .” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'” (Isaiah 6:6-7)

Anyone who has a relationship with Jesus Christ – meaning you have accepted His death on the cross as payment for your sins and by faith, believe that Christ is your Savior – can experience forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

As you get a glimpse of God’s glory, does it cause you to be in awe of who He is? Does it result in recognition of and confession of sins in your life? Have you experienced God’s cleansing power or fogiveness?

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New Covenant

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But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (NIV) Hebrews 2:9

In the Old Testament, God graciously offered reconciliation between the Jews and Himself through the covenant Law. The levitical system of sacrifice was the provision God made to maintain fellowship with His people. The primary obligations for Israel under the old covenant, were to be loyal and obedient to God. These two responsibilities were to be expressed by exclusively worshiping God and Him alone.

The old covenant was broken almost as soon as it was established (Exodus 32) and continued to be broken throughout the history of the people of Israel. God honored His obligations to the people despite the fact that Israel persisted in rebelling against Him (Isaiah 1:5). Ignoring the prophets’ pleas and threats of judgment, the people persisted in their disobedience. The old covenant needed to be replaced with a new covenant, one that man could not ruin.

God’s new covenant was unveiled. It was not an agreement based upon merit or works, like the old plan, but one that was independent of external laws and human interpretations. Obedience no longer resulted from fear of God’s wrath. Instead, obedience was a natural response to the incomprehensible love shown by God.

God sent Christ to earth to become the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 2:9, 9:14). It was God’s will that Jesus suffered and died on the cross. In Christ’s death, He made the atonement for sin. The author of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 in writing that God said, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12). Christ specifically came to earth so that He could die for mankind and thus provide a means of offering salvation.

How has the New Covenant impacted your life and faith?

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

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